Blog
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Exploring eKanban: Push v. Pull Manufacturing
Exploring eKanban: Push v. Pull Manufacturing If you’re considering a shift from a traditional, push-based MRP manufacturing system to a more progressive pull-based system, this white paper is a must read. While contrasting both types of systems, the paper explores the nature of pull-based manufacturing and the evolution of Kanban systems to support today’s demand-driven…
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POV: 3 Ways Layered Technology Differs from the ERP Add-On
Most manufacturers have, at one time or another, deployed an “ERP add-on.” These are the bits and pieces of functionality sold through third parties that round out the capabilities of an ERP system. Common ERP add-ons can include core functionality like Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and Supply Chain Planning (SCP), but for major…
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Guest Blog Part 3: Listen to the Process
Through this guest blog series, my intent is to share some of my experiences implementing supplier quality and Lean manufacturing initiatives by focusing on eKanban systems. My first post offered advice for planning an eKanban rollout (advice that could be applied across any Lean manufacturing project). In my second installment, I reviewed strategies for rolling…
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How the Internet of Things Can Shorten Lead Times
A new study in Modern Materials Handling reports that 86% of industrial organizations are currently adopting IoT (Internet of Things) solutions, and 84% believe those solutions are very or extremely effective. Manufacturers lagged behind the industrial segment as a whole, with only 77% of manufacturers implementing IoT in their facilities. So, what is holding manufacturers…
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Time to Revisit Your Constraints
We talk a lot about constraints management in our work with customers who are implementing Demand-Driven Manufacturing (DDM) in their facilities. That’s because constraints management is fundamental for synchronizing the pace of production and keeping the demand (orders) flowing throughout the shop floor. But, our focus is naturally on physical constraints, e.g., that…
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How the Internet of Things Can Help You Lower Inventory Levels
McKinsey Global Institute predicts the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will have an economic impact of up to $11 billion by 2025. As much as $3.7 billion of that is expected to come from manufacturing improvements in things like operations management and predictive maintenance. The word seems to have gotten out. In a 2016 study…