Internet of Things (IoT)
As we enter the modern industrial age of Industry 4.0, technology has drastically changed the landscape of manufacturing. Whereas humans once had to perform every technical step of the manufacturing process, many tools are now “smart” enough to run pretty independently. These tools are most often spread throughout the industrial environment or as components in […]
Just-In-Time (JIT) Production
Just-in-Time production is a practice within lean manufacturing that makes items “just” at the time demand requires, and not for surplus inventory; its purpose is waste minimization. KEY TAKEAWAYS Demand-driven instead of inventory-driven Eliminating surplus eliminates waste and cost Key aspect of lean manufacturing and TPS JIT’s Origins: Toyota Production System or Lean Manufacturing? Just-in-time […]
Kaizen (Continuous Improvement)
What is Kaizen? Directly translated, Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning “change for the better”, or “continuous improvement” as it is more commonly translated. The central idea is that it is always better to take the time to make improvements, even if operations are slowed down as a result. This may seem extreme but we’ll […]
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
What are KPIs? Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are defined metrics that companies use to track performance next to established goals and objectives. These can be anything from sales stats, quality output, and waste mitigation. Within manufacturing, KPIs enable industry leaders to collect valuable insight into their operational, financial, and customer performance. These insights can then […]
Lead Time
What is Lead Time Lead Time is the period between the customer placing an order and the product being delivered. It begins at the initiation of the purchase process and ends at the completion of the transaction. In many ways, Lead Time is the customer’s experience of the entire manufacturing process. Customers make their order, […]
Lean Manufacturing
What is Lean Manufacturing? Lean Manufacturing is a production methodology used by manufacturers to eliminate waste, optimize value for the customer, and boost company productivity. By focusing on factors that add value and cutting activities that cause waste, companies can create more value while pursuing greater operational efficiency. Essentially, Lean Manufacturing is a win-win scenario. […]
Lean Six Sigma
As companies have mixed and matched business management philosophies throughout the years, many have found that the methodologies of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma work well in complement with each other. Thus, Lean Six Sigma was gradually adopted through a dual minded purpose of reducing both variations and waste. KEY TAKEAWAYS LSS marries the data-based […]
On Premises
On Premises, also known as on-premises or on-prem, is a type of licensed software that is independently hosted on a private server physically at the client’s location. It is the alternative to Software-as-a-Service, which is based on cloud computing. KEY TAKEAWAYS On premises (or “on-prem”) is installed software “on” the customer’s “premises” Opposite of cloud-based […]
Net-Zero Economy
Climate change is drastically affecting the field of global industrial production, and manufacturing leaders are responding to the challenge. By investing in sustainable strategies like green collar jobs and adapting to change, we can improve upon the framework we have built for global production and exchange Insight for this topic comes from Green Collar Jobs, […]
Mixed-Model Assembly
What is Mixed-Model Assembly? Mixed-Model Assembly is a type of production system that produces several distinct products or models within one operation without decreasing productivity, efficiency, and quality. Within these environments, the number of products built on one line can reach up to hundreds of thousands of variations. The frequency and specifications of the models […]