NCI Builds Up Use of Lean Manufacturing Tools

NCI Building Systems sees profitability return after emphasizing cost reduction programs across its business segments. NCI is a large integrated manufacturer of metal products for the nonresidential building industry in North America. The Building segment deploys lean tools to improve its performance metrics and has reduced its manufacturing footprint. ...

... "Cost reduction programs, which began in November 2008, have resulted in the migration from 43 manufacturing facilities to 32. Overlapping and less efficient operations have been eliminated, and more automation and lean manufacturing tools have been utilized. " ...

Via NCI Building: Third Quarter Earnings Discussion (PDF)

Watts Water Tech Lean Six Sigma

Watts Water Technologies deploys Lean Six Sigma for process improvement and operational efficiency, across a consolidating manufacturing footprint. ...

... "We are committed to reducing our manufacturing and operating costs through a combination of manufacturing in lower-cost countries, using Lean Six Sigma to drive continuous improvement across all key processes, and consolidating our diverse manufacturing operations in North America, Europe and China. We have acquired a number of manufacturing facilities in lower-cost regions such as China, Bulgaria and Tunisia. In 2007, we announced a global restructuring plan to reduce our manufacturing footprint in order to reduce our costs and to realize additional operating efficiencies. In February 2009, we announced an additional plan to consolidate manufacturing in North America and China." ...

Via Watts Water Technologies: 2008 Annual Report (PDF)

Manufacturing Clusters in China Adapt

China manufacturing industries often collocate in various areas of the country to leverage talent and local services. This results is geographic areas of industry specialization. Social networks and industry-government collaboration is a critical success factor. The current business cycle dynamics are creating challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing space in China and these clusters are adapting. ...

... "Certain kinds of clusters seem destined to reinvent themselves in surprising ways, as they have in Ningbo for the last 400 years. At the same time, others may fade. " ...

Via Knowledge@Wharton: Industrial Clusters Change Chinese Manufacturing


View Larger Map

Global Manufacturing Foundry Sets Capacity Roadmap

GLOBALFOUNDRIES is a new semiconductor manufacturing company formed by a joint venture of AMD with the Advanced Technology Investment Company. This semicon foundry will serve AMD's and other third party production needs with the right combination of advanced technology and manufacturing capacity. ...

... "GLOBALFOUNDRIES will service the manufacturing needs of AMD and will also offer an expanded roadmap of technologies to third-party customers through its high-volume, global foundry services. This means that for the first time, early access to volume chip production using leading-edge technologies will not just be limited to only high-end microprocessor makers. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is proceeding with plans to expand its Dresden, Germany, manufacturing lines by bringing a second 300mm manufacturing facility with bulk silicon capabilities online in late 2009. The Dresden cluster will be re-named Fab 1 with Module 1 initially focused on production of high-performance 45nm Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology, and Module 2 transitioning to 32nm bulk silicon capabilities. In addition to Fab 1 the company also plans to begin construction on a new state-of-the-art 32nm and smaller features, $4.2B manufacturing facility at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, NY, in 2009. This new facility will be named Fab 2 and is expected to create approximately 1,400 new direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect jobs in the region. Once operational, Fab 2 will be the only independently-managed, advanced semiconductor manufacturing foundry in the United States, bucking the trend of manufacturing industries leaving the U.S. " ...

Via Global Foundries: Global Semiconductor Foundry Opens

Honda Production Cuts

Honda idles its manufacturing footprint in North America to deal with the supply and demand imbalance. ...

... "Ed Miller, said the cuts would take place at five of Honda’s seven plants in the United States and Canada. Employees at the plants will be given other tasks or can take paid or unpaid vacation time ... " ...

Via NYTimes: Honda Production in North America

Manufacturing Consolidation Optimize Lean Opportunities

Aerosonic Corporation will consolidate manufacturing functions at its Clearwater, Florida facility. The consolidation is a continuation of Aerosonic's actions to be more responsive to customers' needs and to increase operational efficiency. ...

... "Avionics Specialties manufactures angle of attack stall warning systems, integrated multifunction probes, which are integrated air data sensors, and other aircraft sensors and monitoring systems. The Company will execute the consolidation plan in a phased approach to maintain delivery schedules and product quality. David Baldini, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: We are restructuring the Company in a way that maximizes efficiencies and increases profitability. This consolidation allows us to focus on continuous improvements in our processes and optimize lean manufacturing opportunities to ensure the best use of our resources and gain a new level of efficiency that is required to remain competitive. " ...

Via Aerosonic: Aerosonic Announces Consolidation of Manufacturing Operations ...