Category: Uncategorized
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It’s Time to Revisit Vendor Managed Inventory
A few decades ago, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) was a hot topic. Many manufacturers saw it as a way to reduce inventory levels and costs. If they could get their suppliers to maintain ownership of raw materials or subcontracted components until consumed, inventory levels would naturally drop—on paper anyway. Because they were giving most, or…
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3 Prerequisites to a Modern Demand-Driven Supply Chain
In 2010, Gartner estimated that manufacturers outsourced about 70% of the products they make to other manufacturers. I haven’t seen a recent statistic, but that still feels about right. So, it only makes sense that, for most manufacturers, implementing modern demand-driven or pull-manufacturing techniques will require collaboration with many partners across the entire supply chain.…
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A New Way of Looking at Manufacturing Metrics
Most experts agree. The metrics you use to manage your manufacturing operations need to matter, and they need to be actionable. We concur. For a detailed review of the operational metrics we recommend in a demand-driven manufacturing environment, refer to our Metrics for Action Guide. Conventional wisdom also says to keep the number of metrics…
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Guest Blog: Real-world Advice for Getting Started on eKanban
by Jim Shore Through this guest blog series, I’d like to share some of my experiences implementing supplier quality and Lean manufacturing initiatives by focusing on eKanban systems. This first entry offers advice for planning an eKanban rollout – suggestions that can also be applied across any Lean manufacturing project. As a result, my hope…
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Going eKanban: Moving from a manual to an eKanban system
Going eKanban: Moving from a manual to an eKanban system Many manufacturers are using Kanban systems today and realizing the benefits of right-sizing their inventory. At some point, however, those using physical, or manual Kanban systems reach a point where the process loses its Lean value. Going eKanban helps manufacturers determine when to move to…
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Lean Manufacturing Experts Offer Advice on Moving to eKanban Technology
Lean Manufacturing Experts Offer Advice on Moving to eKanban Technology Synchrono® provides guidance on when and how manufacturers should migrate from a manual to an eKanban inventory replenishment process…MORE