by Rebecca Kempenich

What Lean Manufacturing Is NOT

The primary focus of lean manufacturing is speed and inventory reduction, while delivering product quality that meets clearly defined customer specifications. Again, looking at the value to the customer (both internal and external), manufacturers must be careful to balance the cost and time invested into a product with the quality demanded by the consumer. It is much like a three legged stool: speed, cost, and quality representing the three legs. Each leg must be raised or lowered in proportion to the other legs, or the stool is out of balance. Since the primary focus of lean manufacturing is to improve speed, this leg becomes the pivotal leg upon which the other two must balance. Keep in mind, however, that just because lean focuses on speed, it does not mean quality is compromised. The very nature of the principles of lean manufacturing  is to improve the quality of the product.

With all the discussion, books, websites, and other materials on the topic of lean manufacturing it’s hard to know which resources are credible, much less understand the mounds of information that one has to sift through to find the most relevant facts.  We documented the journey of a leading global supplier of reference test fuels and re-manufactured organic solvents as they persist along the lean manufacturing path. Read this whitepaper and gain some unique insight on the concepts of lean manufacturing and ways manufacturers can determine exactly what is needed in the production operation, and why.

by: Rebecca Kempenich 

Are you interested in improving operational efficiencies while reducing cost and increasing customer satisfaction? We are and we are talking about it. Welcome to the ProcessPro Software Blog. We launched this blog to provide the process manufacturing community a resource to turn to find industry-related information, especially in the following areas: 

• Industry Best Practices in:
  ·     inventory management
  ·     customer fulfillment
  ·     distribution
  ·     materials management
  ·     transportation
  ·     warehousing
  ·     supply chain management
  ·     purchasing
  ·     planning & scheduling

• ERP Software Selection
• Software Technology & Architecture
• Implementing ERP
• FDA Compliance
• ProcessPro ERP Software FAQ

Weekly postings from our blog authors and industry experts will provide many ideas, opinions and discussion on how to improve your manufacturing business across the entire enterprise. Join the discussion. Tell us about the topics you are interested in. Post a comment below.

by: Rebecca Kempenich

Pressure is growing for manufacturers to squeeze out greater efficiencies while reducing operating costs. 2011 will be no different.

Your competitors are finding ways to: