Microsoft China Manufacturing Sweatshops

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 ... "

Factory Growth

Manufacturing data continues its improvement ...

... "The Commerce Department said orders for manufactured goods increased 0.6 percent after an upwardly revised 2.5 percent jump in January, initially reported as a 1.7 percent advance. " ...

Via Reuters: US factory orders rise

Factory Activity Improvement

October factory activity shows growth. ...

... "Orders placed with U.S. factories rose in October for the sixth time in the past seven months, propelled by gains in non-durable goods that overshadowed declines in spending on new equipment. " ...

Via Bloomberg: Factories

Pre-Fab Lean Production Methods

Project Frog will produce pre-fab school buildings using efficient and effective lean practices. ...

... "The bulk of our secret sauce is in smart design in terms of cleverly using materials. We have instituted some lean production methodologies within our factory, things you might see at General Electric of other big fans of Six Sigma practices. " ...

Via DailyFinance: Project FROG

Manufacturing Expansion Trend

New York economic metrics show positive trends in manufacturing growth, driven by exports and demand-supply adjustments. ...

... "Exports that have increased five straight months, a weaker dollar and lean inventories have combined to keep factories busy. " ...

Via Bloomberg: New York Manufacturing Expands

Honda Zero Waste Factory Strategy

Zero waste movement is gaining traction in industry and communities. Honda North America makes progress through diligence. ...

... "And at eight of its North American plants, Honda is recycling so diligently that the factories have gotten rid of their trash Dumpsters altogether. " ...

Via New York Times: Recycling Strategy

Philly Factory Index Up

More anecdotal evidence of manufacturing industry improvements ...

... "manufacturing in the Philadelphia region expanded more than forecast, adding to evidence an economic recovery is taking hold. " ...

Via Bloomberg: Philadelphia Factory Index

Philly Fed Index description.

Manufacturing Biweekly update.

China Manufacturing RFID Implementation

China is investing in RFID implementation in its manufacturing sector to bolster supply chain performance. ...

... "China is also making the world’s largest investment in installing RFID throughout its factories and supply chain in order to underpin the nation’s manufacturing. " ...

Via eWeek: RFID Orders Surging

Lean Production Capacity Booster

UK manufacturer of sustainable power systems sees demand for their efficient products and expands manufacturing capacity while integrating lean methods to increase efficiency and throughput. The company has opened a factory in Salford, Greater Manchester in UK. ...

... "The company has increased its production of CHP units by 50%, and is aiming to boost production further by introducing lean manufacturing techniques and smarter working practices among its staff. " ...

Via New Energy Focus: ENER-G Capacity Expansion

The new production facility will build upon a foundation of lean manufacturing principles. ...

Energ-E Expansion: "ENER-G will train its factory team in lean manufacturing techniques to introduce smarter working practices and processes that will boost efficiency and ensure faster turnaround of customer orders. As such, initial growth will be absorbed by existing staff, but new jobs will be created as production increases further. "

Lean Manufacturing Requires Shop Floor Visibility

In order to operate in a lean mode, factories of the future will rely on automated data collection and shop floor visibility to sense and respond effectively to events that could lead to inefficiency or waste. ...

... "Any Lean manufacturer in order to realize wasteful use of resources and to create more value for the customer, needs an in-depth knowledge of various activities on the shop floor. " ...

Via PCQuest: Factory Future State Vision

Manufacturing Plant Reset

President Obama singles out examples of revival in manufacturing of sustainable materials and products. ...

... "But you're also helping us to overcome this crisis. Paul's company, Serious Materials, just reopened, as he mentioned, a manufacturing plant outside of Pittsburgh. Last year, that factory was shuttered and more than one hundred jobs were lost. The town was devastated. Today, that factory is whirring back to life, and Serious Materials is rehiring the folks who lost their jobs. And these workers will now have a new mission: producing some of the most energy-efficient windows in the world. " ...

Via The White House: The President on Investments in Clean Energy and New Technologies

Nerf Manufacturing

Want to differentiate your manufacturing company and be globally competitive? Show respect for your workforce. It will be noticed. ...

... "The factory's management and the local officials really look down on the workers, said one laid-off worker who would only give his surname, Qiao, because he feared criticizing the company might jeopardize his chance of getting any compensation. " ...

Via Boing Boing: Nerf factory

The Lean Manufacturing Response

Downturn prompts local firms to accelerate lean manufacturing efforts. ...

... "Aside from idling their local factory, the leaders at Masco are looking to cut costs through lean manufacturing procedures that reduce waste and conserve energy. " ...

Via Ocala Star-Banner: Response to financial downturn

Changing Mindset and Culture with Kaizen in New Markets

As Japanese manufacturers expand into emerging markets, they meet challenges in transitioning their methodologies, culture, and workforce mindset into the new location. ...

... "The hardest part will be teaching the mindset and culture of kaizen, said Shouhei Kimura, a former factory manager who now heads Nissan's operations in India. Still, in recent months, the big Japanese automakers have announced a slew of new factories in the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America. " ...

Via Star-News: Emerging Markets

Honda Manufacturing Methods Upgraded

Honda plans new hybrid car for 2009 and will revamp manufacturing facilities with new methods. ...

... "At its mid-year news conference, Honda also outlined plans to introduce new manufacturing methods at several Japanese factories to boost efficiency and lower costs. Honda said it plans to invest about 158 billion yen to make the improvements at two domestic factories, one for engines and the other for cars. " ...

Via Yahoo! News: Honda hybrid

Lean MES Manufacturing Execution Software Makes Inventory Visible

Manuvis introduces software version that integrates real-time inventory visibility and production metrics in dynamic operational dashbboard. The data visualization supports value stream mapping, queue performance monitoring, and asset utilization. ...

... "Whereas most manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) solutions focus on production machine output, few offer inventory visibility. Manuvis' FactoryMRI, built on lean manufacturing principles, offers superior analytical tools that simplify information exchange within an enterprise and provides a common way to help synchronize enterprise assets. These tools help eliminate waste and increase profits, whether uncovering process variations that cause quality defects, identifying sources of waste and helping find untapped capacity. And since data is obtained directly from production machines, total cost of ownership is reduced by eliminating the need for human data entry into PC's or operate bar code equipment. " ...

Via Manuvis: Real-Time Lean Manufacturing Capabilities

Lean Manufacturing Education Through Game

Play the Lean Manufacturing game on Friday, August 17. ...

... "The training combines interactive classroom presentation and discussion with a live, simulated factory application of Lean concepts. Bill Nicholson, a certified Lean trainer and MMEC Field Engineer, will teach the course. " ...

Via Montana State: Lean Manufacturing workshop offered in Kalispell August 17

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