tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67065042010-04-27T11:18:56.668-05:00Achieve Breakthrough Performance through Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and Other Leading Management Practices that Enable Continuous Improvement.Frank Mnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-54068666311168428702010-04-27T10:52:00.001-05:002010-04-27T10:54:38.298-05:00

In response to market momentum, GM begins to invest in its manufacturing future. ...... "it would invest about $890 million to upgrade five North American plants to build the next-generation V8 engine for its full-sized pickup trucks. " ...Via Reuters: GM to invest

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-80922146714684593492010-04-26T07:47:00.004-05:002010-04-26T07:51:25.800-05:00

at logistics conference event on April 28. ...... "Increasing Profitability in a Challenging Economy, 8:30 a.m., Media General Hanover Production Facility ... Speaker: Taylor Frazier III, Defense Supply Center Richmond Lean Six Sigma program manager. " ...Via Richmond Times-Dispatch: Business Meetings

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-37358403063335554512010-04-25T11:16:00.004-05:002010-04-25T11:20:06.937-05:00

Lean startups use low-cost techniques, such as open-source software tools and the Web, to create foundation to scale. ...... "The term lean start-up was coined by Mr. Ries, 31, an engineer, entrepreneur and blogger. His inspiration, he says, was the lean manufacturing process ... " ...Via New York Times: Lean Start-Ups Find Customers Quickly

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-47888470073595130772010-04-24T12:23:00.003-05:002010-04-24T12:24:51.357-05:00

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-46105222447879705812010-04-22T15:13:00.007-05:002010-04-22T15:21:29.511-05:00

PACCAR sees improved revenues and earnings building on its operational excellence platform with lean and Six Sigma, which has been integrated into its culture. ...... "PACCAR’s application of Six Sigma tools together with Lean Manufacturing techniques has generated cumulative benefits for PACCAR of $1.4 billion since 1998, commented Helene Mawyer, PACCAR vice president. Ten thousand PACCAR

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-83954184456605178312010-04-21T18:35:00.008-05:002010-04-21T18:43:10.000-05:00

Genzyme and the FDA are getting closer to agreement on the pharmaceutical manufacturing deficiencies at the Allston plant. ...... "Genzyme received a draft consent decree from the FDA regarding its Allston manufacturing plant. The draft provides for an up-front disgorgement of past profits of $175 million. Because this is a likely outcome, Genzyme booked this expense in the first quarter. In

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-62600234794600624762010-04-21T16:12:00.005-05:002010-04-21T16:17:57.564-05:00

Insights into Germany's workforce stability and tactics deployed in the manufacturing sector, kurzarbeit, worktime accounting, ...... "22 percent of firms surveyed by the Ifo Institute, a Munich research organization, said they were using Kurzarbeit. Among manufacturers, 39 percent were taking advantage of it. " ...Via New York Times: Germany’s Secrets

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-53169678587415697572010-04-21T13:41:00.006-05:002010-04-21T13:49:09.597-05:00

HP teams deploy kaizen to streamline the routine at its facilities for Indigo products. ...... "Presses are assembled strictly to order, and their just-in-time production is governed by Japanese-inspired rules of lean manufacturing. Team-driven kaizen events are used to solve problems and maximize throughput at every stage. " ...Via Print CEO: HP Indigo plant

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-44671014323647539272010-04-21T11:51:00.003-05:002010-04-21T11:55:08.658-05:00

Mother nature has a way of testing the resilience of supply chain strategies, especially lean and JIT inventory techniques. ...... "The strategy of keeping inventories lean paid off for U.S. manufacturers during the recession. Just-in-time delivery of parts makes even more sense when budgets are tight. Now that a giant ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland is disrupting global air freight, some

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-22186567721293740842010-04-20T16:06:00.007-05:002010-04-20T16:12:07.070-05:00

Even Indian firms must confront Chinese competition with operational excellence programs, such as lean continuous improvements. Bharat Heavy Electricals leader discusses the company's competitive strategies. ...... "Coupled with this, many operational improvement strategies were also introduced, such as design-to-cost, lean manufacturing and so on. Of course, this has been a continuous

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-68842960793962251462010-04-19T18:56:00.010-05:002010-04-19T19:04:22.633-05:00

Dow Corning CEO weighs in on renewable energy policies to spur the creation and growth of the green value chain in the United States. ...... "Rep. Sander Levin: If we are not aggressive about expanding our green manufacturing capacity, these manufacturing jobs will be created overseas and the United States will become more reliant on products that are produced outside of our borders ... " .

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-30299790297201114252010-04-19T09:22:00.001-05:002010-04-19T09:27:51.305-05:00

Local manufacturers leverage lean techniques to transform their business models as the local workforce work through their own personal transformations. ...... "A move to lean manufacturing at GE Transportation, the region's largest industrial employer, illustrates the changes. ... Today, the company builds an even more complex locomotive in 15 days while working just two shifts. " ...Via

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-2525744427978679472010-04-18T10:43:00.005-05:002010-04-18T10:45:01.264-05:00

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-23445215855060073882010-04-16T08:34:00.005-05:002010-04-16T08:42:27.696-05:00

Nissan partners with Bajaj to compete profitably in the small, cost effective automotive market with a global product offering. ... ... "Nissan will utilize Bajaj's lean manufacturing techniques for the low-cost offering. Most -- if not all parts -- will be sourced from within India as well, allowing Nissan to cut overhead costs by reducing labor costs and the amount spent on shipping. " ...

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-59713650719488244792010-04-15T08:18:00.004-05:002010-04-15T08:24:21.657-05:00

New York area manufacturers are utilizing their factories at higher rates than forecast. ...... "With inventories at such low levels, manufacturers have started to respond to increased demand. The New York Fed’s gauge of new factory orders increased to 29.5 this month from 25.4 in March. " ...Via Business Week: New York Manufacturing Index Empire State Manufacturing Survey via the

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-7163043734792268592010-04-14T16:00:00.004-05:002010-04-14T16:02:34.188-05:00

Microsoft experiences the dark side of manufacturing in China. Better oversight of suppliers would improve the situation. ...Microsoft sweatshop at supplier: "A recent report by the National Labor Committee focuses on KYE Factory, which seems to be breaking every rule imaginable. According to worker estimates, Microsoft accounts for the largest proportion of production at KYE ... "

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-19385762602278009172010-04-13T11:38:00.004-05:002010-04-13T11:46:41.795-05:00

Lithium battery manufacturer, Electrochem, is well along on its lean journey and drives lean principles to the workforce through lean 101 education. ...... "They go through a full day of what we call Lean 101. They spend the time to understand what Lean is all about, says Bolt. " ...Via Business Review USA: ElectrochemElectrochem lean leadership (PDF).

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-79060507692633380942010-04-12T07:05:00.006-05:002010-04-12T07:09:22.075-05:00

Small and medium sized businesses, like Snapcab by Bostock, benefit from lean in their high growth phases. ...... "Bostock said he’s been able to increase profits by implementing lean manufacturing. As the company grew he brought more hands on deck to manage day-to-day operations. " ...Via Philadelphia Business Journal: SnapCab

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-854710023716757642010-04-11T19:00:00.006-05:002010-04-11T19:08:21.374-05:00

Medical device manufacturer Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics deploys machine tools and lean techniques to drive down cycle time. ...... "Machine cycle times are being reduced and the lean manufacturing strategies introduced by the company have helped improve quality and productivity still further. " ...Via Manufacturing Talk: MX CNC turning centre

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-27300292421640815422010-04-10T15:09:00.004-05:002010-04-10T15:10:54.815-05:00

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-15007867666198211522010-04-06T08:44:00.003-05:002010-04-06T08:47:28.136-05:00

Variability in IT practices and processes provides opportunities for security exploits. ...... "Brad Marr, a Six Sigma black belt IT leader, preaches this at almost all of his meetings. He typically presents charts showing a company's level of variability from the established standard. Although he might want perfection, he tells his coworkers he expects less variability over time. " ...Via

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-88203428566028005682010-04-03T10:46:00.005-05:002010-04-03T10:50:46.078-05:00

Coke plant sets challenging target and supports workforce recycling efforts. ...... "When we talk about sustainable packaging and recycling, our goal is to be 100 percent, said John Zermeno, director of manufacturing for Coca-Cola's south business unit. " ...Via Memphis Tennessee, Commercial Appeal: Coca-Cola Memphis plant

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-73025380847366471602010-04-03T09:21:00.003-05:002010-04-03T09:23:45.836-05:00

Nice business process improvement checklist, including communication to stakeholders ...... "Implement Change: Preparing the Organization — Communication is key here. The company must identify who needs to know about the change, what they need to know about it, and how to properly communicate the right information to the right people. " ...Via Chem.Info: Ten Steps

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-81965053656775722822010-04-02T10:45:00.006-05:002010-04-02T10:45:00.886-05:00

Bechtel reports respectable revenue results and highlight its quality strategies. ...... "Bechtel also reinforced its commitment to quality - doing every job right the first time. The company is developing new ways to measure quality and integrate quality assurance into every project, from start to finish. In addition, Bechtel continues to refine its Six Sigma quality improvement program, now

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6706504.post-39045887165040861552010-04-02T09:37:00.005-05:002010-04-02T09:43:26.013-05:00

Weir Minerals retools its production facilities for lean operations with financial and organizational investments. ...... "He says that the company has now exited the recession, with a lean operations rating of 80%. This was achieved by a substantial amount of capital investment in new technology and by implementing new operational practices. " ...Via Creamer Engineering News: Major upgrade

Frank Mnoreply@blogger.com0