Lean Manufacturing DefinitionBecoming lean is a goal of most manufacturers. What does it mean to be lean and how is it accomplished? Lean Manufacturing is the practice of using less input (ie man hours, materials, warehouse/production space, investment in equipment, etc.) in the production of goods. The benefits of reducing labor and overall spending without detriment to the final product are obvious. When implemented correctly, Lean Manufacturing allows a manufacturer to lower prices for their customers without sacrificing quality.
Highly configurable systems are outpacing canned systems and providing a path for innovation. Advancements in browser based technology are enabling agile deployment strategies.
Manufacturing software helps manufacturers improve production performance by providing visable control and reporting across the enterprise.So how does a company become lean? In most cases there are many opportunities for a company to reduce waste. A good software system can aid in this process. For example, JIT (Just-In-Time) Inventory Software eliminates excessive warehouse space needed to store raw material and finished goods. Preventative Maintenance (PM or CMMS) Software ensures that maintenance is being performed on your equipment on a routine basis so that equipment breaks less often. Downtime Software in coordination with PM/CMMS shows which machinery needs attention and can suggest when one should purchase replacement machines vs when to replace a component of that machine.
Software also exists to implement Six Sigma, a set of procedures meant to eliminate defects. Defect Tracking, Quality and Statistical Process Control (SPC) Software allows a company to track noncomformant products and ascribe a reason for such a failure. The data is processed and displayed in a variety of chart, graphs and text-based reports to allow managers to understand the reason for defects so that they can remedy the most pressing issues.
Lean Manufacturing may seem like a lofty goal, but in most cases, there are many opportunities for improvement. A flexible software solution empowers you to take advantage of these opportunities without forcing you to redesign your entire operation. Tailorable software also provides you with the capability to adapt to new situations and innovate to outperform your competition.
More Articles
Lean Manufacturing Software
Becoming lean is a goal of most manufacturers. What does it mean to be lean and how is it accomplished? Lean Manufacturing is the ... | Production Control
The differences between production control systems are numerous. There are canned systems that take a one size fits all approach and there are tailored systems that offer a lot of flexability but req... | OEE Systems Improve Profit
Do you know which pieces of your manufacturing equipment are the most efficient? When should you service/replace your machinery? How do you go about monitoring this to maximize your profit margins? Th... | Manufacturing Execution System Design
Choosing the right design for your manufacturing execution system is one of the most important decisions you can make for your plant. Your MES system will be one of the deciding factors in your failu... | Inventory Management Through Best Practices
Best Practices Inventory Management through a high quality software system is one way you can streamline your organization’s inventory maintenance. The idea of “best practices” comes from the need to ... | Why Invest in Manufacturing Applications?
Do you need an advantage over your competition? Are you looking for a way to streamline your operations? A properly configured software system can show you which of your products are profitable and wh... | OEE
If you're looking for OEE software there are several really good new options on the market. The introduction of browser based programming technologies has really improved the way that OEE software ca... | Statistical Process Control
There is a wide variety of Statistical process control software these days. From simple utilities that can be set up quickly to fully integrated systems that integrate with enterprise systems and man... | Closed Loop Cost Benefits
Closed Loop systems are an innovative form of process control. Developed for process-based manufacturing, these systems collect as much data as possible from production runs then use the settings from... | Job Tracking Cost Benefit
Do you know when each job in your shop will be finished? Can you tell a client who calls where their job is in your process? With a real-time Job Tracking system you can! With minimal data input, a po... | Barcode Scanning Cost Benefit
Companies implement barcode scanning operations for many purposes. Some are looking for a way to improve accountability through more accurately recording job-related activities. Others wish to elimina... | Lean Manufacturing Software
Becoming and remaining lean in the manufacturing industry is essential. Only the most efficient manufacturers are able to be successful. In addition to internal restructuring there are other tools ava... | Closed-Loop Process Control
Are you looking for a better way to control your process? Consolidating your process control efforts with a highly effective system can reduce costs and improve your quality. A innovative approach to ... | Flexible Manufacturing Software
Business management software is necessary to run a company efficiently. Simple software often sustains an organization when it is small, but as it grows, different, more progressive functionality for ... | Lean Manufacturing Consulting
To compete with cheap foreign imports, manufacturers of high quality goods must be as efficient as possible. What does it mean to be lean and how is it accomplished? The definition of Lean Manufacturi... | Estimating Software
Which products are you making a profit on? Do you have the tools to determine a fair price for your goods? If you are not able to estimate your manufacturing costs, you will find it difficult to deter... |
|
