Lean Manufacturing Commitment Drives Program

Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems division manages global positioning program, GPS IIF, using lean techniques. ...

... "The performance of these subsystems is a testament to our process-based management and to our lean manufacturing commitment, and GPS IIF fully meets the specifications set forth by our U.S. Air Force customer and places us firmly on track to deliver the satellite for the first launch in 2008. " ...

Via Boeing: Boeing Builds First GPS IIF Satellite

Boeing Dreamliner Lean Process

Boeing San Antonio will support the Dreamliner after launch with modification. ...

... "We've become successful in eliminating waste through lean manufacturing processes, she says. We've implemented a lot of procedures to make it efficient or cost-efficient (to keep planes operational). " ...

Via San Antonio Business Journal: Boeing Dreamliner

Boeing Aircraft Lean Production System

Boeing starts manufacturing of key airplane components as it ramps up for aircraft assembly by mid-year. Lean techniques make up its repertoire of manufacturing improvements. ...

... "To create additional production capacity to build the 787 vertical fin, the Boeing factory implemented significant improvements, including a pulse moving line featuring right-sized tooling, determinant assembly and advanced technology drilling techniques. Lean manufacturing techniques are used to enhance the quality and efficiency of its production system. " ...

Via Aero-News Network: Boeing 787 Manufacturing

Lean Maintenance Supports Aerospace MRO

Lean manufacturing techniques are pervading the maintenance overhaul and repair processes of aerospace companies. Overhaul cycle time is decreasing as a results. ...

... "Pulsed moving lines, point-of-use kitting, pull systems, self-directed work cells - all the buzzwords of lean manufacturing are now being heard across commercial and military maintenance and modification. " ...

Via Flight International: Lean in Maintenance MRO Processes

Boeing Lean Recognition: Continuous Improvement Performance

Boeing's Space and Intelligence Systems division receives California Award for Performance Excellence, Gold Level award in recognition of its high performance in continuous improvement efforts. ...

... "Howard Chambers, S&IS vice president and general manager: S&IS is comprised of several organizations obtained through mergers and acquisitions, and we've made it a priority to merge processes and procedures in order to improve competitiveness and leverage lean manufacturing, six sigma and other initiatives. The Gold award validates that we are on the right path toward overall business excellence and symbolizes our commitment to flawless program execution. " ...

Via Boeing: Boeing Receives Top Award for California Performance Excellence

Mulally Lean Experience Ford's Benefit ...

Ford will benefit from CEO Mulally's lean manufacturing experience at Boeing. ...

... "Mr Mulally carefully studied Toyota's world-beating manufacturing in the early 1990s, though it took years before Boeing's factories incorporated much of the lean manufacturing philosophy - the 737 factory got a moving final-assembly line only in 2003, 90 years after Henry Ford invented it. " ...

Via Economist: Ford's new pilot ...

Lean Principles: Innovative Collaboration with Suppliers ...

Jim McNerney, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing, shares his views on innovation and how lean principles have transformed Boeing. ...

... "The result is that we are able to help our customer spiral in new technology to the Super Hornet -- so it will continue to be relevant as its operators change their approaches to how they fight -- while at the same time it actually becomes less costly for them to buy. We are able to do that by applying Lean principles to the way we and our supplier-partners design the systems and operate our production facilities. " ...

Lean Principles: Innovative Collaboration with Suppliers: Via Boeing: McNerney: Innovation and the Global Economy ...

Boeing Lean Manufacturing: Final 717 Aircraft ...

Boeing lean manufacturing program continues, as the final 717's are delivered ...

... "Our production system is an industry benchmark because of the lean manufacturing and employee involvement practices we pioneered on the 717 in Long Beach, said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. The 717 has forever redefined how we build airplanes. We're extremely proud of the airplane, our employees and our many supplier partners on the program. The program was launched by an order from AirTran Airways in 1995, and the airplane quickly became renowned by customers for its excellent economics, performance and reliability. Based on the Douglas DC-9 and launched as the McDonnell Douglas MD-95, the 100-seater was renamed the Boeing 717 after McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997. " ...

Boeing Lean Manufacturing: Final 717 Aircraft: Via Boeing: Boeing Delivers Final 717s; Concludes Commercial Production in California ...

Lean ERP Software: Boeing Uses SSA ...

Boeing leverages SSA ERP to enable its lean manufacturing in the Commercial Airplanes unit. ...

... "SSA Global, a leading global provider of enterprise business software and services, announced that The Boeing Company has contracted with SSA Global to use products from the SSA ERP application suite as the enterprise resource planning solution for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes business unit. Under the five-year software and services renewal agreement signed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006, SSA Global will continue to provide Enterprise Resource Planning software that supports Boeing's lean manufacturing and supply chain objectives. " ...

Lean ERP Software: Boeing Uses SSA: Via Boeing: Boeing Signs Multi-year Contract with SSA Global: SSA ERP products continue as core enterprise resource planning solution for Boeing Commercial Airplanes ...

Lean Manufacturing Job Classifications ...

Minimize number of job classifications to create lean manufacturing workforce ...

... "As part of the push toward Japanese-style lean manufacturing, Chrysler is laying off some skilled trade workers such as electricians and tool and die makers. It's also reducing the number of job classifications at many of it plants. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Job Classifications: Via The Detroit News: Chrysler cuts trade workers ...

Lean Manufacturing An overview of what it should include: "Technical and management support to resolve problems, Removal of indirect workers, broadening narrow job classifications and cross training, Keeping the responsibility with the originator, not the technical support functions ... "

Superfactory - best practices enabling lean manufacturing excellence: "When the machine stops often the worker just stands there waiting for maintenance. I have visited 250 plants in Japan and never recall seeing someone standing and just waiting. I have been to numerous American plants and always see the reverse. Some union plants have hundreds of job classifications protecting worker�s salaries but limiting flexibility to move people to where they are needed when they are needed.) "

Via IMPACT: Program Profile: Lean Manufacturing Transformation: "After LARA's work on the Presidential Commission on Aerospace, the US Department of Labor approached the program with a research grant to examine operations at Boeing/IAM St. Louis, where both union and employer agreed to compress approximately 47 job classifications and numerous sub-classifications into eight integrated categories. "

Boeing Lean Manufacturing Efforts

Boeing has embraced lean principles through many of its aircraft manufacturing sites. Felix Sanchez explores the efforts of Boeing and city of Long Beach to continue building C-17 transport planes in the local factory. ...

... "Through lean manufacturing, and trims of its own at the C-17 plant which have included layoffs Boeing has been able to reduce the cost of building a C-17 from its initial $220 million price tag to $160 million. " ...

Boeing Lean Manufacturing Efforts: Via Press-Telegram: Long Beach forms team to find ways to keep Boeing's C-17 line ...

References on the Boeing C-17 program:

Via Boeing: C-17 Globemaster III: The New Global Airlift Standard: "The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is designed to fulfill military airlift needs well into the 21st century. A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear-loading ramp, the C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across international distances directly to small austere airfields anywhere in the world. "

Boeing Lean: Supply Chain Integration ...

David Greising explores the success and challenges for Boeing as it embraces lean manufacturing principles which require tight integration in the supply chain. ...

... "Boeing executives are doing what the experts recommend: giving suppliers real-time access to its information systems so they can know when and where Boeing needs deliveries." ...

Via Chicago Tribune | BOEING'S BIG TEST: SUCCESS

Boeing Lean Manufacturing Production System ...

Boeing will build the 787 on a new production system based on lean manufacturing principles. ...

... "The company also has adopted a new lean-manufacturing production system based on Toyota's. The new assembly line in Everett for the 787 will be the ultimate application of lean principles, with suppliers sending in huge completed sections from around the globe for a three-day assembly process. " ...

Via KING5 Seattle News: Successor to Boeing 737 likely to be built in state ...

Additional resources on Boeing lean manufacturing principles:

Via Boeing: Environmental Reports - Creating - Build it Lean: "These ideas are called Lean Manufacturing, which draws on the insights and skills of the men and women whose hands form our products. It starts at the detail level, where small increments of waste can go unnoticed in the great push to assemble an airplane. By stepping out of their regular routine and taking stock of their work space and processes, with the coaching of a manufacturing expert, our employees have mounted a grass-roots revolt against waste."

Via Boeing: Lean Enterprise Successes: "To date, IDS application of Lean principles has led to products with fewer parts, are easier to build and support, have higher quality and are more affordable. The net result is higher customer satisfaction, better opportunity for growth and increased shareholder value."

Via Boeing: All Systems Go - Vol. 2, No. 3: "The introduction of Lean manufacturing to the shop floor in 1999 changed everything. Today the Mesa site is one of the company's Lean showpieces and is a candidate for the prestigious Shingo Prize."

Six Sigma Control Phase Requires Data Collection Support ...

Minitab plug-in supports factory data-collection during Six Sigma control phase. ...

Six Sigma Control Phase Requires Data Collection Support: Six Sigma Software Plugs MINITAB® into Factory Data inRealTime ...

... "As much as 40% of the gains of Six Sigma projects are often lost due to poor implementation in the control phase. While these are unofficial estimates, most Black Belts will agree that their companies are not able to produce clean consistent process data over time without going through great expense and unbudgeted manual labor. Hertzler has packaged many of those wizards and interfaces into a MINITAB plug in that can relieve the headaches and the hassles of collecting machine process data. inRealTime is the perfect Green Belt tool. " ...

Hertzler Systems provides seamless, accurate data acquisition solutions that drive business transformation. They have been in this business for over 20 years, with a diverse customer base in service, transactional and manufacturing environments. Hertzler Systems enables clients to connect, collect and analyze data; building a robust data infrastructure for making data-driven decisions. These capabilities help clients to reduce costs, cycle time and errors, and increase profitability. Hertzler's clients include Boeing Aerospace, BAE Systems, IDEX Corporation, Kraft Foods, McCormick & Company, Inc., Pactiv Corporation, and Titleist & Footjoy Worldwide, just to name a few.

Boeing Lean Manufacturing: Growth Rebounds ...

Boeing has implemented lean manufacturing through many of its business processes. Steve Wilhelm explores the situation at Boeing, where airplane production is increasing. ...

Boeing Lean Manufacturing: Growth Rebounds: Via MSNBC: Boeing, wary of '97, hopes for smooth rebound ...

... "Corvi points to the division's ability to stay profitable during the economic slowdown after the 2001 terrorist attacks as evidence of how better communication, and the development of lean manufacturing, made the production process more responsive. " ...

Six Sigma Variability Reduction ...

Six Sigma Variability Reduction: VYKOR AFFILIATE NETWORK (VAN) SUPPLIER PROGRAM GROWS TO OVER 100 MEMBERS: Aerospace and Semiconductor Capital Equipment Companies to benefit: Engineered Part Management Sourcing Solutions: Vykor

... "Major aerospace procurement organizations are leveraging the Vykor EPM platform to make informed, strategic decisions about where to best source work packages across their increasingly complex supplier networks. Vykor's solutions bring six sigma standardization and variability reduction to the sourcing process in order to improve visibility, lower risk and reduce costs. " ...

Vykor provides on-demand Engineered Parts Management (Vykor EPM™) solutions that enable the world's leading industrial manufacturing companies to integrate supply chain intelligence and manufacturing knowledge into design and sourcing decisions. Vykor EPM is a proven, scalable software-driven solution that works from design through procurement to improve visibility and reduce variability, applying six sigma methods to design and sourcing. Vykor's customers include GE Aircraft Engines, Vought Aircraft Industries, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Cessna, Northrop Grumman, Messier-Dowty, the US Air Force Metals Affordability Initiative, Novellus, AKT, and others.

Human Resources Practices Drive Lean Manufacturing Success

Boeing Mesa Wins Award for Best Human Resources Practices

... "The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] in Mesa, Ariz., received a special award from Utah State University for human resources (HR) practices in support of lean manufacturing processes. These HR processes also helped Boeing win the 2004-2005 Shingo Prize for excellence in manufacturing. " ...

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.5 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Home land Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.

Six Sigma Key Characteristics Methodology ...

Process/Industrial Engineering: Key Characteristics KC Methodologies

... "Thirteen presentations included the following: Allied-Signal discussed the implications of KC's on suppliers; GE discussed the design for six sigma; Xerox, Kodak, and Boeing gave overviews and examples of KC implementations; and IBM gave a presentation on the implication of statistical tolerancing. Four strategic research and development issues emerged from the 1998 symposium: how to take a system view of variation risk management, the meaning of KC's to suppliers, a potential U.S. standard for KC's, and the cost implications and benefits of KC methodologies. In addition, working groups were formed to continue discussions. These groups are: Costs, Standards, Statistical Tolerancing, Process Capability Databases, Metrology, Supplier Relations, and Models and Tools. " ...

Supplier Lean Training ...

Governor Locke's Speeches | Washington State Supplier Lean Training Kick-off Event

... "Raising and enhancing the skill level of manufacturing workers within all tiers of the value stream will make our suppliers even more competent. And more competitive with other states, and other countries. Strengthening our manufacturing excellence will more competitively position us to earn more manufacturing work. Including the 7E7. Boeing has long been a leader in lean manufacturing. From the Japan Study Missions more than a decade ago to sweeping changes in processes and techniques in the factory the past several years, Boeing has shown the courage and foresight to change and improve. " ...

DFSS in Process Industrial Engineering ...

Process/Industrial Engineering

... "The first annual KC Symposium in 1997 brought 40 people from 11 organizations together to discuss general problems and issues surrounding KC implementation. The 1998 KC symposium was hosted by KSC. Thirteen presentations included the following: Allied-Signal discussed the implications of KC's on suppliers; GE discussed the design for six sigma; Xerox, Kodak, and Boeing gave overviews and examples of KC implementations; and IBM gave a presentation on the implication of statistical tolerancing. Four strategic research and development issues emerged from the 1998 symposium: how to take a system view of variation risk management, the meaning of KC's to suppliers, a potential U.S. standard for KC's, and the cost implications and benefits of KC methodologies. In addition, working groups were formed to continue discussions. These groups are: Costs, Standards, Statistical Tolerancing, Process Capability Databases, Metrology, Supplier Relations, and Models and Tools. " ...

Application of Lean Techniques Show Dramatic Assembly Time Decrease ...

Application of Lean Techniques Show Dramatic Assembly Time Decrease: Boeing Reduces 737 Airplane's Final-Assembly Time by 50 Percent

From Boeing ... ... The Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737 airplane is making history again as the application of lean manufacturing techniques gives ...

... The Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737 airplane is making history again as the application of lean manufacturing techniques gives it the shortest final-assembly time of any large commercial jet. The 737, the world's most popular commercial airplane model, is now assembled in 11 days at the company's Renton, Wash., facility. That's a 50 percent reduction since lean techniques were introduced there in late 1999. ...

The 737 - a short-to-medium-range airplane - is based on a key Boeing philosophy of delivering added value to airlines with reliability, simplicity and reduced operating and maintenance costs. The Boeing Company provides products and services to customers in 145 countries. Boeing has been the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for more than 40 years and is a global market leader in military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and launch systems and services. Total company revenues for 2003 were $50.5 billion. Boeing employs nearly156,000 people in 70 countries and 48 states within the United States, with major operations in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, southern California, Wichita and St. Louis.

Lean Approach Enabled by Product Lifecycle Management PLM Software ...

Lean Approach Enabled by Product Lifecycle Management PLM: Agile Customer Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc. Receives ...

From PR Newswire, Jan 13, 2005 ... "Agile PLM is a critical enabler for our lean manufacturing approach that has become necessary throughout our complete supply chain. ...

... Agile Software Corporation (Nasdaq: AGIL), a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, today announced that its customer, Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc. has been recognized by industry-leading publication, InfoWorld, as having one of the 100 most innovative corporate IT solutions in 2004. Each year, InfoWorld names 100 companies that have made the best use of technology to enhance their business. This year, the InfoWorld 100 included Saturn Electronics & Engineering's use of Agile PLM to reduce product development time, improve customer satisfaction, increase automotive business win rates and increase product profitability. ...

Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc. is a supplier of components and sub-systems to Original Equipment Manufacturers and their Tier 1 suppliers within the automotive industry. It offers its customers integrated, cost-effective solutions that are responsive to outsourcing needs and provides a broad range of services, including design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing and assembly, testing and qualification, and post-production support. Saturn's highly innovative products are designed, engineered, and manufactured worldwide.

Agile Software Corporation helps companies drive profits, accelerate innovation, reduce costs, and ensure regulatory compliance throughout the product lifecycle. With a broad suite of enterprise-class PLM solutions, time-to-value focused implementations, and a unique Guaranteed Business Results program, Agile helps companies get the most from their products. Alcatel, Boeing, Dell Inc., Flextronics International, GE Medical, Haemonetics, Hitachi, Johnson & Johnson, Leapfrog, Lockheed Martin, Magna Steyr, Siemens, QUALCOMM and ZF are among the over 1,200 customers in the automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer products, electronics, high tech, industrial products, and life sciences industries that have realized high impact results through their use of Agile solutions.

Additional resources on PLM enablers for lean manufacturing ...

Society of Manufacturing Engineers: SESSION: (327) Engineering Enablers for Lean Manufacturing. ... ROI they've derived from implementing PLM. ... re probably incorporating lean manufacturing within your ...

Leveraging associative product, process, plant and resource data: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... Teamcenter for Manufacturing enablers 7 ... fits all” approach to product lifecycle management (PLM). ... for Manufacturing enables lean manufacturing by helping you ...

PLM - A New Era of Collaboration: One of the key enablers is the Web, which serves ... focus on a particular slice of the PLM pie is ... Economy With the revitalization of the manufacturing economy our ...

PLM: Revenue Booster: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... among its enablers are a speedy and collabora- tive development function ... the PNPD and M&S functions to become lean, agile, and ... They are a key element of a PLM ...

Six Sigma Career Path at Oce NA: William Pugh ...

Six Sigma Career Path at Oce NA: Bill Pugh Named VP, Operations for Oce North America

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Electric, he was responsible for the worldwide management of inventory and subsequently earned his Master Black Belt in General Electric's Six Sigma Initiative ...

... Oce (Nasdaq: OCENY), a global leader in digital document management and delivery solutions, today announced the appointment of William R. Pugh to the new position of Vice President, Operations. The Operations department is comprised of the Order and Billing Assurance, Inventory Management, Logistics & Delivery, and Purchasing functions for Oce North America. Mr. Pugh joined Oce in September 2003 as the Leader, Change Management for Oce's program implementation at The Boeing Company. In that capacity, he worked to implement the best practices of Oce Business Services within the environment and culture of this important new Oce client. ...

Oce is a leading provider of digital document management technology and services. The company's solutions are based on Oce's advanced software applications that deliver documents and data over internal networks and the Internet to printing devices and archives -- locally and around the world. Supporting the workflow solutions are Oce digital printers and scanners, considered the most reliable and productive in the world. Oce also offers a wide range of display graphics, consulting and outsourcing solutions. Netherlands-based Oce N.V. (Nasdaq: OCENY), with a workforce of more than 22,000 people and 2003 revenues of $3.0 billion, maintains research and manufacturing centers in the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Japan. Oce's North American headquarters is located in Chicago with major business units in Chicago; New York City; Boca Raton, FL; Vancouver, BC; Salt Lake City; and Coventry, RI. North American revenues were $1.2 billion for fiscal 2003, and employment is currently 9,100.

Kanban Techniques: Mantech Success with Demand Pull Supplier Pilot Program for the JDAM Supports the Warfighters, Operation Enduring Freedom ...

From AFRL/ML Success Story ...

... "At some facilities the Lean practices used involved eliminating ergonomic problems by designing new tools, or altering work-station configurations that improved the physical nature of the production process. A production floor process known as Kanban (Japanese) was also installed where needed. Kanban is the use of cards, carts or crates as signals to trigger production in feeder operations. Air Force ManTech benefits by having a proven business case relating supplier development activities directly to measurable improvements in cost, quality and schedule for the JDAM program. Boeing benefits through risk reduction in support of meeting their pre-negotiated cost and schedule milestones for JDAM, both for their scheduled production increases and for their surge demands, anticipated to be more than 2,800 kits per month." ...

For over 85 years, the men and women of the Air Force Research Laboratory have sought to make a better flying machine. Since 1917, when the directorate was activated as the Materials Section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio, the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and its predecessors have played key roles in research and development efforts that have advanced aerospace capabilities to where they are today.

FMEA Failure Mode and Effects Analysis: McDonnell Douglas Aerospace-St. Louis (Boeing Aircraft and Missiles) - St. Louis, MO:Failure Mode, Effect, and Criticality Analysis

From Office of Naval Research's Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program ...

... "Best Practice : Failure Mode, Effect, and Criticality Analysis: McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA)-St. Louis has developed detailed documentation and software to support Failure Mode, Effect, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) patterned on the MIL-STD-1629A methodology. FMECA is used to evaluate the potential impact of each system failure mode on mission success, personnel and system safety, and performance. FMECA consists of two distinct steps. First, a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is conducted to identify all failure modes within a system design. Secondly, a Criticality Analysis is conducted to rank each failure mode identified in FMEA according to the combined influence of severity classification and its probability of occurrence. The results of the Criticality Analysis determine the requirement for design control of catastrophic and critical failure modes." ...

The Office of Naval Research's Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program was created in 1985 to help businesses identify, research, and promote exceptional manufacturing practices, methods, and procedures. Its objective is to empower defense and commercial customers to operate at a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness.

QFD Techniques: Technology Transition to Production ...

From McDonnell Douglas Aerospace-St. Louis (Boeing Aircraft and Missiles) - St. Louis, MO, Project Deployment ...

... "Customer concerns (internal and external) are taken into account, and all aspects of the current manufacturing method that would be affected are noted. Requirements for the replacement process are obtained using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and the potential replacement processes are ranked using the QFD matrix. When the leading candidates are identified, the team attempts to lower the risks of these methods even further by performing trials on non-production parts, running laboratory tests, or performing Taguchi testing. When the team agrees that the process is ready for production and meets the QFD requirements, shop trials begin on production parts." ...

QFD in Defense Industry: FWV Technologies Applicable to UCAV...

... "QFD results previously discussed were based on the FWV technologies being applied to a manned vehicle. WL/FI asked Boeing-Phantom Works to identify which of the FWV technologies would also be applicable to an unmanned combat air vehicle." ...

Supply Chain Management: Coty International Selects Manugistics to Optimize Freight ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... MANU), a leading global provider of demand and supply chain management solutions ... The deployment provides a global freight optimization program that includes ...

... Manugistics Group (NASDAQ:MANU), a leading global provider of demand and supply chain management solutions, today announced that it has been awarded a software licensing contract with Coty Inc., one of the world's largest marketers, manufacturers and distributors of fragrances, cosmetics, personal care and beauty care products. The contract, awarded in May, is an expansion of Manugistics' longstanding relationship with Coty. Manugistics is currently deploying an end-to-end transportation management system to optimize inbound, outbound and inter-facility freight logistics among Coty's North American and European facilities. The deployment provides a global freight optimization program that includes track and trace, load order consolidation, automated freight pay and invoice reconciliation, dynamic pooling and exchange integration. ...

Manugistics is a leading global provider of demand and supply chain management solutions. Today, more than 1,200 clients trust Manugistics to help them drive profitable growth, unlock the value of their existing IT investments, and ensure the security and integrity of their global supply chains. Its clients include industry leaders such as AT&T, BMW, Boeing, Brown & Williamson, Cingular, Circuit City, Coca-Cola Bottling, Continental Airlines, Diageo, DuPont, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, McCormick, Nestle, Nissan, RadioShack, Sanmina-SCI and Unilever.

Coty Inc., which celebrates its centennial this year, is a modern company that has risen to become one of the world's largest and most successful beauty companies with sales of $1.7 billion in 2003. With operations in more than 25 countries, Coty Inc. boasts a global brand portfolio of unrivaled breadth and scope, spanning the three core categories of fragrance, color cosmetics and skincare in the prestige, mass and "masstige" distribution sectors.

Lean Six Sigma: Xerox Wins $23 Million Contract with HSBC, Inks Multimillion ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... in research and technology, Xerox invests 5 percent to 6 percent of its revenue in innovations including document technologies, Lean Six Sigma-based assessment ...

... Demonstrating growing market momentum and demand for document services, Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) today announced a $23 million contract with financial powerhouse HSBC and a multimillion-dollar win with aerospace giant The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA). Xerox simultaneously announced an expanded suite of services and software designed to serve customers' changing information technology needs, cut costs, and streamline work processes in businesses small and large. In a briefing today with more than 100 industry analysts, Xerox Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Anne M. Mulcahy said the new developments reflect the company's increasing focus on value-added services - a business that is on track to generate 20 percent growth in 2004. ...

Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX) is a $15.7 billion technology and services enterprise that helps businesses deploy smart document management strategies and find better ways to work. Its intent is to constantly lead with innovative technologies, products and solutions that customers can depend upon to improve business results. Headquartered in Stamford, Conn., Xerox is No.130 among the Fortune 500 and has 60,600 employees worldwide, including 35,100 in the United States (March 2004). The company's operations are guided by customer-focused and employee-centered core values -- such as social responsibility, diversity and quality -- augmented by a passion for innovation, speed and adaptability.

Boeing Lean Manufacturing Jobs: Boeing hiring for thousands of jobs

From King County Journal Newspapers, WA ... One thing that should help the company avoid repeating that pattern in the future is its implementation in recent years of lean manufacturing processes to ...

" ... The Boeing Co., which cut more than 27,000 jobs in WA state the past three years, will hold a job fair next month -- its first locally since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The company is seeking to immediately fill up to 3,000 positions, including approximately 2,500 in the Puget Sound area, said Boeing spokesman Peter Conte. That number includes recalls of about 1,000 laid-off machinists -- a process that already has begun and is expected to continue through the end of the year, Conte said ... "

The Boeing Company provides products and services to customers in 145 countries. Boeing has been the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for more than 40 years and is a global market leader in military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and launch systems and services. Total company revenues for 2003 were $50.5 billion. Boeing continues to expand its product line and develop new technologies to meet customer needs. Creating new models for its family of commercial airplanes; developing, producing, supporting and modifying aircraft for the U.S. military; building launch vehicles capable of lifting more than 14 tons into orbit; and improving communications for people around the world through an advanced network of satellites, Boeing is carrying forward a long tradition of technical excellence and innovation. Boeing employs nearly156,000 people in 70 countries and 48 states within the United States, with major operations in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, southern California, Wichita and St. Louis. Boeing is organized into four major business units: Boeing Capital Corporation, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Connexion by BoeingSM, and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Supporting these units is the Boeing Shared Services Group, which contributes common services and efficient infrastructure services that enable the company's business units to concentrate on profitable growth. In addition, Phantom Works provides advanced research and development, including advanced concepts for air traffic management. Phantom Works partners with the company’s business units to identify technology needs and address them with innovative and affordable solutions.

Examples of Boeing Lean Manufacturing success abound. In one year, employees building 737 floor beams reduced labor hours by 74 percent. Inventory turnovers have increased from 2 to 18 per year. The inventory of work in process has gone from 100 pieces to 30. The 747 Door shop reduced assembly time from 19 hours to 4 and reduced manufacturing space by 50 percent. Employees building 777 tail assemblies cut lead time by 70 percent and reduced space and work in process by 50 percent. In doing so, they freed up enough capacity to add the 767-400 composite wing tip assembly line. In Long Beach, Calif., workers building the 717 adopted Lean techniques and accelerated fuselage assembly from 700 hours to 256 hours. They also eliminated 80,000 feet of travel from their workflow.

Six Sigma Manufacturing Solutions: Tecnomatix to Exhibit at Quality Expo; June 9-10 in Novi, MI

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Eliminating defects that can crop up during manufacturing or service processes is one of the key goals of such business strategies as Six Sigma. ...

Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd. provides the world's leading Manufacturing Process Management (MPM) solutions for the automotive, electronics, aerospace and other manufacturing and processing industries. Tecnomatix eMPower solutions for MPM enable the design, simulation, and execution of production processes, and provide real-time control and visibility throughout shop floor operations. More than 5000 companies worldwide are using eMPower solutions to reduce operating costs, accelerate product introductions, and shorten time-to-volume - while maintaining high levels of product and process quality. With offices in over 20 countries, Tecnomatix supports such global leaders as BMW, Boeing, Comau, Ford, GM, Mazda, Philips, Schneider Electric and Volkswagen. For more information, visit www.tecnomatix.com.

Lean Manufacturing Success in the Air Force

The successful conclusion of an Air Force Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program has reaped numerous benefits for the warfighter, not the least of which is a whopping five-to-one return on the Air Force's investment that amounts to more than $100 million.

Cost reductions were achieved by reducing component manufacturing cycle times through product and process quality improvements. These steps included the application of Lean business practices. These efforts refined and implemented Lean, non-proprietary business policies and practices and the use of electronic data affecting cycle time and product quality across the sector. This was an execution of cooperative endeavors, and showed the benefits of collaboration to resolve common, pre-competitive issues that would not be addressed in the previously used one-on-one, supplier to OEM relationship.

Lean manufacturing practices are generally aimed at transforming the aerospace enterprise, including smaller companies within the ManTech supply chain, that are increasingly responsible for as much as 80 percent of the production work on some Air Force programs, into Lean Supplier Networks for prime aerospace contractors, like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The primary contractors employ a manufacturing production flow system that necessitates consistent, reliable delivery of quality components from all suppliers.

A variety of Lean practices have been incorporated into many prime aerospace manufacturing facilities, in some cases creating drastic changes in how the company operates. At some facilities the Lean practices used involve eliminating ergonomic problems by designing new tools, or altering work-station configurations that improve the physical nature of the production process.

The Air Force Research Laboratory seeks to make a better flying machine. Since 1917, when the directorate was activated as the Materials Section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio, the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and its predecessors have played key roles in research and development efforts that have advanced aerospace capabilities to where they are today.

Lean Manufacturing: Boeing sees altered 737 as sub spy

From The Wichita Eagle, KS ... The lean manufacturing processes and established track record of the 737 at Boeing Wichita and in other places create "tremendous value"