Toyota Production System Highlights

TPS reviewed in this vid. ...

Lean Supply Chain: Inherent Risks

Lean manufacturing and kanban inventory pull creates higher risks in the supply-side of the supply chain. Understand your risks and prepare for events. ...

... "Meanwhile, lean manufacturing, globalization and supplier rationalization initiatives have dramatically increased companies' exposure to the risk of supplier instability, shrunk time-to-respond, and decreased visibility. " ...

Via line56: Link

Product-Focused Flows through Lean Six Sigma ...

Invistics creates solution offering that achieves the significant cycle time and inventory reduction in manufacturing using lean flow design, specialized software, and pull scheduling. ...

... "Built on modified Lean and Six Sigma principles, Invistics MachSix uniquely combines flow-based manufacturing methodologies, performance optimization software and variations on demand-based pull scheduling to help today's highly variable production environments gain greater advantage. In fact, Invistics' customers have been able to cut cycle times and inventory in half or more, while achieving on-time delivery rates as high as 99 percent. The MachSix solution alleviates bottlenecks by realigning plants into product-focused flows that leverage the best practices of Lean Manufacturing. Flow paths group products into families or value streams that visit similar pieces of equipment, allowing manufacturers to manage thousands of products with no dedicated machines." ...

Via Invistics: Invistics Has the Skinny on Lean Manufacturing: Why Some Enterprises Fail to Derive Benefits (PDF) ...

Manufacturing Software: Lean Integration ...

Factory Logic collaborates with the Automation and Drives Group of Siemens AG to integrate the Factory Logic Lean software into the Siemens SIPLACE manufacturing optimization solution. ...

... "Siemens will integrate the Factory Logic Lean Operations Suite (Factory Logic) into SIPLACE manufacturing optimization solutions for the global electronic assembly market. SIPLACE is the Siemens product family name for integrated hardware, software and services solutions to support the entire SMT (Surface Mount Technology) production facility. Factory Logic is a software solution designed from the ground up to support demand-driven production scheduling and pull-based supply synchronization using proven lean methods originally pioneered in the Toyota Production System (TPS). As part of SIPLACE lean manufacturing solutions, Factory Logic will enable electronics manufacturers to perform advanced production leveling and kanban/supermarket management functions in conjunction with SIPLACE SMT machines and other Siemens solution components. Factory Logic supports an integrated approach that directly links production to actual customer demand, while maintaining the stability required for consistent, reliable, waste-free factory and supply chain operations. Siemens will sell and support the Factory Logic software as an embedded component of SIPLACE solutions globally. " ...

Via Factory Logic: Siemens to Integrate Factory Logic Lean Manufacturing Software Into SIPLACE Electronics Assembly Solutions ...

Lean Software: Visteon SAIC China JV ...

QAD software enables the lean manufacturing success of the Visteon SAIC joint venture in China. ...

... "QAD Inc., a leading provider of enterprise software solutions for global manufacturers, announced that Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems LTD has deployed enterprise software applications from QAD to enable lean manufacturing operations and achieve exceptional inventory and manpower efficiencies. The implementation of QAD's Global Enterprise Edition. QAD GXE has enabled Yanfeng Visteon to gain dramatic reductions in material inventory, substantial reductions in stock space and enhanced data for logistical support and personnel savings. Yanfeng Visteon, a joint venture between SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, one of China's largest automotive manufacturers, and Visteon International Holdings Corporation, one of the world's preeminent automotive component manufacturers, is the leading supplier of spare parts for cars and trucks within China.

Like North American auto and truck manufacturers, the joint-venture company has been faced with the need to change its business processes to reduce inventory costs, enable higher productivity, and meet the requirements associated with sequencing assembly projects. The company's streamlining of operations using QAD provides cost as well as competitive benefits. QAD's software and expertise in lean systems has allowed Yanfeng Visteon to gain a critical advantage over other Chinese companies. Using QAD GXE, Yanfeng Visteon has cut materials inventory, reduced stock area, and cut logistics staff, enabling the company to achieve efficiencies that are unmatched by other enterprise solutions available today, as noted by company executives. Based on Toyota standards for lean manufacturing that are widely accepted by the automotive industry, QAD's Lean Manufacturing solution helps manufacturers effectively use Kanban systems to align inventory with demand for pull-based replenishment. It integrates electronic representation of Kanban processes with core ERP functions to provide comprehensive level loading, tracking and visibility of production, and supports electronic Kanban as well as physical card-based visual systems. " ...

Lean Software: Visteon SAIC China JV: Via QAD: Visteon-Shanghai Joint Venture Turns to QAD to Enable Lean Manufacturing ...

Lean Software Replaces Purchase Orders ...

Timken implements Ultriva lean software to eliminate purchase orders and pull materials into the production process. ...

... "The implementation follows the Timken Kunsebeck plant's successful pilot with Ultriva's lean software across three of its suppliers, which began in May 2005. Implementing Ultriva's lean manufacturing software, which replaced traditional purchase order processes, has already resulted in lead-time reductions of more than 30 percent, the elimination of many stock-outs and significant inventory reductions. Based on pilot results, Timken's Kunsebeck plant is targeting a 20 percent reduction in inventory and inventory carrying costs in 2006. The company also anticipates significant reductions in expediting, storage space, lead times, and overtime, as well as increased buyer and planner productivity. " ...

Lean Software Replaces Purchase Orders: Via Ultriva: Timken Deploys Ultriva Lean Manufacturing Software In Its European Automotive Division ...

Lean Solution: Pull Scheduling Techniques ...

Infor delivers lean solution that leverages pull scheduling techniques ...

... "J&E/Earll has implemented Infor's Easy Lean solution, which has brought pull-oriented scheduling techniques to its production, which includes the manufacture and delivery of make-to order custom metal components and fabricated, finished and assembled final products for industries in some 30 states, Canada and Ireland.

Prior to incorporating Easy Lean into its Infor ERP VISUAL Enterprise software suite, J&E/Earll lacked the tools it needed to meet its delivery performance objectives. Without a formal scheduling or load/capacity capability, work did not flow efficiently. Production was consistently subject to expedited shipments and constantly shifting priorities. After Infor's Throughput Improvement PSO Group provided J&E/Earll with an approach to lean manufacturing, the company was able to use Easy Lean to reduce lead times dramatically, while making it considerably easier to maintain a 95-percent on-time performance level. " ...

Lean Solution: Pull Scheduling Techniques: Fast-Growing Manufacturer Solves Scheduling Challenges with Solution from Infor: Infor solutions enable J&E/Earll Manufacturing to slash lead times and gain 95-percent on-time delivery ...

Lean Manufacturing: Microsoft Roadshow in Europe ...

Microsoft and partners sponsor manufacturing roadshow in Europe to share experiences, such as lean manufacturing and other methods of driving peak performance. ...

... "Microsoft EMEA announced the launch of the Peak Performance Road Show, a series of two-day conference exhibitions wholly focused on the manufacturing sector for CxO and line-of-business executives. The events will take place in cities across Europe between March and June 2006, starting in Munich, Germany, on 13 and 14 March.

Executive attendees will have the opportunity to hear presentations from industry experts, thought leaders and analysts. They will also have the chance to debate current industry issues with their peers and address the challenges that manufacturers from all industries are experiencing: how to reduce new-product development time while continuing to innovate; how to improve the performance of complex plant floor operations; how to obtain a real-time view of the global value chain and achieve lean manufacturing goals; and how to gain a complete view of sales and customer service channels. " ...

Lean Manufacturing: Microsoft Roadshow in Europe: Via Microsoft: Microsoft and Team of Industry Leaders to Host European Manufacturing Road Show: Peak Performance events to bring industry experts and leading manufacturers together to learn from each other ...

Additional Microsoft resources on lean manufacturing ...

Via Microsoft: Automating Lean Manufacturing Process Design Using the Microsoft Office System: "A lean manufacturing process design solution can help organizations reduce lean manufacturing implementation costs, improve collaboration surrounding lean manufacturing implementation, and enhance progress tracking for lean improvement projects. Based on the Microsoft Office System, a lean manufacturing process design solution can be deployed quickly with minimal training costs. "

Via Microsoft: Manufacturers increase profits with Microsoft technology: "Employees at each level of the manufacturing process must have the information and tools they need to support lean manufacturing, and these tools must work together to integrate and enhance the planning, analysis, implementation, and reporting of the lean manufacturing cycle. "

Via eBECS: eBECS pioneer Lean Manufacturing suite for Microsoft Business Solutions – Axapta: "Lean Manufacturing. This is the ability to establish manufacturing cells where downstream triggers pull kanbans through the supply chain. Cells are loaded with orders from Lean ordering and other sources with extensive usage of visual techniques for execution.

Lean Supply Replenishment. While similar to Lean Manufacturing, this module provides functionality which extends electronic kanbans out to suppliers. Lean Supply Replenishment supports everything from simple email kanbans to email alerts for secure website schedule and call-off support. It also handles pulling materials from a central warehouse where the practicality of serving multiple points on a shopfloor makes that appropriate. Both also enable more sophisticated kanban triggers, like backflushing for materials consumption and monitoring bin weigh scales on production cells. "

JIT Kanban Material Pull: Supply Trigger ...

JIT Kanban Material Pull: Supply Trigger: Via Supply & Demand Chain Executive: Rising to the Challenge of the Outsourced Supply Chain ...

... "By this time, SafeView had assembled its supply base, with seven key suppliers, mostly based in the U.S. Northwest so that they could do just-in-time and a Kanban material pull in conjunction with the Plexus production facility outside Boise. " ...

Lean Technology: TPS Production Management ...

Factory Logic has digitized the Toyota Production System TPS to enable standardized production management. ...

Lean Technology: TPS Production Management: Via Factory Logic: FACTORY LOGIC SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR PRESTIGIOUS PACE AWARD: Company’s Enabling Lean Technology Recognized for Superior Innovation ...

... "Factory Logic, the leading provider of Lean solutions that meet the needs of the Customer Demand-Driven Factory, today announced that it has been selected as a finalist for a 2006 Automotive News Magazine’s PACE™ (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contributions to Excellence) Award. The coveted PACE Award honors superior innovation through technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers. Factory Logic’s Lean Operations Suite provides production scheduling and pull-based material flow applications designed to help manufacturers realize the tremendous potential of demand-driven lean manufacturing. " ...

Kaizen Event: 5S Implementation ...

Kaizen 5S process at Stevens Industries reduced cycle times, travel distance, and space requirements, while increasing the production capacity. ...

Kaizen Event: 5S Implementation: Via NIST: Stevens Industries International, Inc.: MEP Providing Hands-On Help through Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership ...

... "Florida MEP worked with Stevens' management team in introducing the principles of lean manufacturing to key employees by presenting a TimeWise Lean 101 workshop thereby providing all team members with the knowledge and necessary tools to advance to the next stage of lean transformation. Stevens then moved on with a Computerized Process Model of their counter top shop in Fort Meyers to evaluate the process in their counter top facility. A value stream map was then created for the Cabinet Manufacturing line, which resulted in a Kaizen event and a 5S-implementation process. The Stevens' Lean Team implemented the basics of lean (5S's, standardized work, quality at the source, pull/kanban systems). " ...

Six Sigma Error Proofing: Manufacturing Software

Manufacturing software enables Lean Six Sigma performance by accelerating component flow through the supply chain ...

Six Sigma Error Proofing: Manufacturing Software: Via IGear Online: Cosma International Selects I/Gear Manufacturing Software ...

... "In automotive manufacturing, I/Gear software enables a wide range of MES applications by providing a foundation for moving data between dissimilar systems and technologies, and the ability to push and pull data to and from the plant floor. I/Gear's application infrastructure software products enable more efficient deployment and maintenance of a near infinite amount of applications to include lot and part traceability, error-proofing and quarantine, on-demand label printing, dynamic scheduling, sequencing, build-to-broadcast, escalating notification, and manufacturing intelligence. The software suite is a complete package as it provides raw data collection and transport, as well as the graphical user interface to view and manage information. " ...

Louisville, KY based I/Gear, Inc., a leader in integrated manufacturing solutions, enables lean and six-sigma manufacturing by enabling manufacturers to make only what the customer orders, without defects, and compress the time required to pull components through supply chains and down through production lines – giving manufacturers a significant advantage over the competition. In addition to Magna, customers include UPS, Accuride Corporation, Dana Corporation, Cooper Tires, International Paper, and Alcan. I/Gear, Inc. is privately held.

Lean Continuous Flow Operation Conversion

In a lean continuous flow operation, the manufacturing operations receive and produce only what is needed, exactly when it is needed. Continuous flow cells use pull systems to manage raw material and WIP, work in process ...

Lean Continuous Flow Operation Conversion: Via HB Maynard: York Casket Case Study ...

... "For York to remain competitive and meet Matthews operating objectives, division management needed to reduce unit costs by 20 to 40 percent. To reach this goal, York partnered with H.B. Maynard and Company, Inc. for assistance in converting the wood casket plant to a Lean Continuous Flow operation. " ...

Inventory Optimization Drives Working Capital Improvements in Supply Chain

Inventory Optimization Drives Working Capital Improvements in Supply Chain: Via LogicTools, Inc.: World Kitchen, Inc. selects LogicTools Inventory AnalystTM for inventory optimization ...

... "LogicTools Inventory Analyst performs global optimization that enables companies to set inventory levels across the supply chain. These improve on the rule of thumb or local calculations typically used by current planning systems. In addition, this technology has produced large savings for companies by optimally locating and sizing inventory as well as determining effective push/pull supply chain strategies. Inventory Analyst uses state of the art optimization algorithms that take into account uncertainties in supply and demand as well variability in processing and distribution times. " ...

LogicTools, a leading provider of supply chain planning solutions, was founded in 1995 by David Simchi-Levi, Professor of engineering systems at MIT. LogicTools provides the expertise, software, services and support that enable comprehensive supply chain planning processes in a variety of industries. LogicTools’ suite of supply chain planning solutions includes network design, inventory planning, and multi-site production sourcing. LogicTools is a long-time SAP Software Partner through its certified integration of LogicNet Plus® which is offered as an extension to the mySAPTM Supply Chain Management (mySAP SCM) solution and Inventory AnalystTM, a multi-echelon inventory optimization solution which is Powered by SAP NetWeaver. LogicTools’ customers include General Motors, IBM, Kraft Foods, Ryder System, UPS, United States Postal Service, Welch’s, Yankee Candle and many others.

PokaYoke in PullSystems CellDesign ...

Cell Design and Pull Systems 160 ...

... "A Japanese term meaning mistake proofing. An example of pokayoke would be a machine designed so that parts can be fixtured only in the correct position. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Facility Design ...

Lean Manufacturing Facility Design: ModusLink Expands its Utah Operations ...

Facility design incorporates lean manufacturing techniques to achieve high-performance supply chain ...

... "The new facility adds 174,624 square feet of operational space and capacity to the current global footprint. Employing lean manufacturing techniques, the center was designed and equipped with highly skilled personnel, equipment, systems and business processes to implement the most efficient and cost effective supply chain solutions. " ...

ModusLink is a leading provider of global supply chain management solutions. The company provides global technology clients in the software, hardware, telecommunications and wireless markets with customized supply chain solutions that reduce risk and time to market and improve efficiency and productivity. ModusLink's services include demand planning, sourcing and procurement, manufacturing support, kitting and assembly, fulfillment, full-cycle logistics, systems integration and development, customer support and optimization consulting. Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, ModusLink maintains 37 facilities in 13 countries and employs 3,900 people worldwide. The company is a subsidiary of CMGI, Inc.

Additional resources on lean manufacturing facility designs:

Facilities In Lean Manufacturing Strategy: Lean Manufacturing is all about adding value and avoiding waste. Facility planning (land, buildings, equipment, furnishings) provides the physical capability to add value. ...

Items included in facilities design are plant location, building design, plant layout, and materials handling. The focus of this text is on designing lean manufacturing facilities. This means that all aspects of production should work together to eliminate waste.

Facilities Design for Lean: The lean facility design concentrates on adding value at each activity. This is done by creating one piece flow through cells dedicated to product families. Pull is created through kanban and visual systems. Quick setups are a necessity.

Lean Manufacturing DemandPull Management ...

Lean Manufacturing DemandPull Management: Webinar Demonstration ...

Web seminar by Pelion on their demand management solution for supporting lean manufacturing techniques, such as demand-pull ...

... "Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO) Demand Manager, Date: Thursday, July 14, 2005 from 1:00-2:00 pm EST, Speaker: Dave Gleditsch, Chief Technology Officer, Pelion Systems, Inc. ... Objective: Dave Gleditsch, will host a complimentary Webinar to demonstrate Demand Manager and highlight how it’s driving automated demand-pull manufacturing at a major Tier 1 automotive supplier and a major consumer appliances manufacturer. " ...

... Demand-Pull system capabilities are integral to optimization of the manufacturing process which leads to excellence in lean manufacturing.

Pelion Systems is the market leader in Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO) software products and services based on Lean, Six Sigma, and Flow Manufacturing principles. With Pelion, leading manufacturers are able to liberate capital, grow profits and sustain breakthrough performance by optimizing operations and extend their supply network to include suppliers, customers and outsourced service providers in their business transformation. Pelion MPO integrates easily with existing ERP, MRP and APS systems and is able to scale from a single facility to an enterprise implementation. Based in Boulder, Colo., Pelion has sales and marketing offices in Chicago, Detroit and Austin.

Lean Initiative: Five Basics of Lean Thinking ...

Lean Initiative

... "The lean philosophy employs five basic principles of lean thinking: (1) specify value from the perspective of the end customer, (2) identify the value stream for each product, (3) create continuous flow of the product, (4) let the customer pull the product and (5) strive for perfection. Lean is intended to attack muda (Japanese for waste) and give customers exactly what they want, when they want it and perform tasks more and more effectively. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Intelligence Solution ...

ICONICS' New Manufacturing Intelligence Solutions for Regulated Industries

... "ICONICS, a leader in Web-enabled, OPC-based HMI/SCADA and Manufacturing Intelligence Visualization software for Microsoft Windows operating systems, today announced its new Manufacturing Intelligence Software Suite for Regulated Industries. BizViz, ICONICS' real-time manufacturing intelligence solution, enables pharmaceutical and other regulated industries to overcome today's business challenges regarding collection, management, analysis, and sharing of real-time information. ... Configurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) enable real-time performance tracking against set targets. BizViz supports Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Demand Pull process-improvement initiatives with many KPIs used in the pharmaceutical industry, such as OEE, Cycle Time, and Productivity. BizViz embraces the framework of Collaborative Manufacturing, and extends it via a reliable and OPC-based interoperable platform that can be easily customized to meet one's specific needs. " ...

Founded in 1986, ICONICS is a leader in the development of Web-enabled industrial automation and manufacturing intelligence software for Microsoft® Windows® operating systems. Offering the industry's only suite of fully-integrated OPC-based components and products, GENESIS32™ Enterprise Edition is available for Windows XP, 95, 98, Millennium, and 2000, and Windows NT®. Pocket GENESIS™ for Windows CE and Pocket PC was built from the ground up based on ICONICS' OPC-To-The-Core™ framework. BizViz™ is a suite of manufacturing and business intelligence products, which bridge the gap between manufacturing and corporate business information systems. BizViz is designed around Microsoft .NET technology, Microsoft SharePoint™ and runs on Microsoft server 2003. ICONICS also offers a complete set of Plug and Play automation components, including best-in-class OPC ActiveX® Controls, OPC Toolkit, Human Machine Interface (HMI), Microsoft SQL Server®–based data logging, Multimedia Alarming, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) products. ICONICS is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner, represented in over 50 countries and has in excess of 150,000 products installations worldwide.

Lean Enterprise Simulation Model ...

Simulation Model of the Lean Manufacture of NIF Assemblies

... "The concept of Lean Manufacturing, which was pioneered at Toyota, emphasizes continuous improvement through the identification of the value stream and the reduction of waste, and making value flow at the pull of the customer. The Lean concepts have been applied to many manufacturing applications in industry, most notably the major automotive plants. The NIF Lean Enterprise Team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is working to apply the concepts of Lean Manufacturing to the production of the mechanical and optical assemblies which will comprise the NIF system. Application of the Lean concepts requires the identification of the value stream, along with streamlining of the production process, such that unnecessary steps are eliminated, and production flows according to the demand schedule in a 'just-in-time' manner." ...

Kaizen Blitz Involves Workforce ...

Lean Manufacturing - Kaizen Blitz - Involve Your Workforce in the Pursuit of Eliminating Waste ...

... "What is Kaizen Blitz? A Kaizen Blitz is an intensive and focused approach to Process Improvement. Kaizen means continuous improvement and Blitz means lightning fast. This continuous improvement methodology combines lean manufacturing tools such as the 5S's of Workplace Organization and Standardization, Cells, Pull/Kanban, Setup Reduction and Line Balancing. Each tool incorporates team empowerment, brainstorming and problem solving to rapidly make improvements to a specific product or portions of your processes." ...

The Kaizen Event methodology has been used extensively for improving the organization of work in factories and actual methods used to manufacture products. The results are real-time with implementation occurring within one week.

Six Sigma Strategic Supply

Strategic Supply

... "The central aim of this effort is that Honda's flexible and agile lean manufacturing is now better able to respond to a demand pull concept, not only for material flows internal to manufacturing (parts reside in the production plant for a mere six hours) but also to better respond to demand direct from customer orders. Quality control measures such as TQM, ISO 9000, and Six Sigma help companies set and achieve standards of excellence in their production processes. Organizations that successfully implemented such programs are also moving these practices off the factory floor and deploying them throughout the company to improve quality and reduce waste. As a result, many organizations are reducing costs, increasing profits and/or revenues, and meeting customer expectations. Caterpillar considers its Six Sigma process to be its number one critical success factor and it is easy to see why. In one year, Six Sigma returned $40M to the company's bottom line, a substantial return on investment." ...

Lean Initiative: The initiative covers an area of improvement of the product process from concept to operations use of turbine engines in military air

Lean Initiative

... "The principles of lean thinking were first documented in the U.S. by researchers from MIT International Motor Vehicle Program and in the book 'The Machine That Changed the World' by James Womack, Daniel Jones and Daniel Roos. The lean philosophy employs five basic principles of lean thinking: (1) specify value from the perspective of the end customer, (2) identify the value stream for each product, (3) create continuous flow of the product, (4) let the customer 'pull' the product and (5) strive for perfection. Lean is intended to attack muda (Japanese for waste) and give customers exactly what they want, when they want it and perform tasks more and more effectively. " ...

Lean Value Stream for NIF Assemblies

Simulation Model of the Lean Manufacture of NIF Assemblies

... "The concept of Lean Manufacturing, which was pioneered at Toyota, emphasizes continuous improvement through the identification of the value stream and the reduction of waste, and making value flow at the pull of the customer. The Lean concepts have been applied to many manufacturing applications in industry, most notably the major automotive plants. The NIF Lean Enterprise Team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is working to apply the concepts of Lean Manufacturing to the production of the mechanical and optical assemblies which will comprise the NIF system. Application of the Lean concepts requires the identification of the value stream, along with streamlining of the production process, such that unnecessary steps are eliminated, and production flows according to the demand schedule in a 'just-in-time' manner." ...

Heijunka Pull System ...

Heijunka Box Used at United Electric Controls - Watertown, MA:Shipping Using a Pull System

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

... "UE uses a Heijunka box to schedule and control the flow of work: Since implementing its new shipping system, UE decreased the number of short shipments and incorrect part shipments, as well as eliminated many problems associated with the previous method. Orders are now consolidated for shipment which creates fewer transactions. Shipping supervisors can determine the status of the shipment by looking at the Heijunka box, and assign additional help as needed. Folders, outfitted on distribution carts, hold the paperwork and indicate the daily completion status of a customers order by which folder is used. In addition, UE reduced the number of domestic shippers from four to two, even though the volume of shipments has increased." ...

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. To this end, BMP has three core competencies represented by tools and resources that enable organizations to identify and apply best practices and become part of a vast, mutually supportive information exchange network.

Supply Chain Management Software: LogicTools' Inventory Analyst is Certified for SAP Net Weaver

Supply Chain Management Software: LogicTools' Inventory Analyst is Certified for SAP Net Weaver

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... integration of LogicNet Plus(R), the leading network design solution, which is offered as an extension to the mySAP(TM) Supply Chain Management (mySAP SCM ...

... LogicTools inventory Analyst 4.0(TM) has been certified for the SAP NetWeaver(TM) integration and application platform and is now "Certified for SAP NetWeaver." This will enable access to Inventory Analyst(TM) through SAP Enterprise Portal. LogicTools is already an SAP software partner through its certified integration of LogicNet Plus(R), the leading network design solution, which is offered as an extension to the mySAP(TM) Supply Chain Management (mySAP SCM) solution. Inventory Analyst enables companies to make strategic inventory decisions based on the entire supply chain. This technology has produced large savings for companies by optimally locating and sizing inventory as well as determining effective push/pull supply chain strategies. For this purpose, LogicTools' Inventory Analyst uses state of the art optimization algorithms that take into account uncertainties in supply and demand as well variability in processing and distribution times. ...

LogicTools (www.logic-tools.com) a leading provider of supply chain planning solutions was founded in 1995 by David Simchi-Levi, Professor of engineering systems at MIT. LogicTools provides the expertise, software, services and support that enable comprehensive supply chain planning processes in a variety of industries. LogicTools' suite of supply chain planning solutions includes network design, inventory planning, and multi-site production sourcing. LogicTools has been instrumental in helping companies gain competitive advantage in the market by replacing extremely complex, expensive and customized software implementations on the one hand and limited spreadsheet analysis on the other. Optimizing the supply chain results not only in significant savings (typically 5%-15%) but also provides clarity of vision and better understanding of the trade-offs. LogicTools has customers across many industries including, CPG, Food, Retail, 3PL, High-Tech, Process & Discrete Manufacturing, Automotive and Public Sector. Some of LogicTools' customers include Del Monte, General Motors, IBM, Kraft Foods, Mercer, Ryder Systems, True Value Hardware, UPS, United States Postal Service, Welch's, Yankee Candle and many others.

Kanban Techniques: JLG Industries, Inc. - McConnellsburg, PA - Continuous Flow Manufacturing ...

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

... "focus was redirected to analyze up-stream operations. A steering team, organized to develop goals and objectives, established policies and procedures to ensure all personnel were working in the same direction. Company-wide teams were developed to plan and implement physical layout changes. All CFM problems were resolved when highlighted by teams. A facilitator was assigned the role of being the champion for CFM and its integration in the manufacturing process. Pilot areas were developed to prove out changes, and the changes were integrated throughout manufacturing. Pull and Kanban systems were implemented, supplier partnerships were developed, and rate-based scheduling was introduced." ...

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.

Kanban Technqiues: Kaiser Electronics - San Jose, CA - Demand Flow Technology Manufacturing

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

... "integrated assembly, test and inspection pull manufacturing system that has been widely used in the Far East and the United States. This method applies Kanban techniques to trigger the manufacturing process and incorporates components from almost all aspects of a manufacturing operation from line design to work instructions. The technique accommodates lot sizes down to one, and provides for flexibility in scheduling throughput by allowing operators to perform various processes within the manufacturing cells." ...

NAVAIR Depot Gets Lean ...

From NAVAIR, Susan Brink, NAVAIR Public Affairs Specialist writes ...

... "NAVAIR Depot Jax has determined that the next step to be taken to become a world-class organization is the empowerment methodology known in the industry as Lean Operations. So what is Lean, and why use that tool in the depot environment? Lean is simply a method that was initially developed by the Japanese to manufacture automobiles, referred to as the Toyota Production System. The method has evolved into a very dynamic tool set that is applicable to all businesses and disciplines. Its primary focus starts with the identification and elimination of waste. Waste, in this instance, refers to any activity in a process that does not add value to the generation of a quality product. Some examples include the time associated with waiting for parts or paperwork, searching for parts, and walking around the plant to retrieve tools, parts, or work instructions. Lean also transforms production processes from an inefficient push system to a more efficient and less costly flow and pull system. There are other businesses in the industry that utilize the Lean methodology and have seen success. NAVAIR Depot Jax has partnered with General Electric Aircraft Engines to see what has worked for them and identify processes throughout the Depot to review." ...

Taiichi Ohno: Lean Initiative

From AFMC/industry team looks for turbine engine improvements ...

... "The philosophy, Lean Production, was pioneered by Toyota executive Taiichi Ohno and used in the Toyota Production System. The principles of lean thinking were first documented in the U.S. by researchers from MIT International Motor Vehicle Program and in the book 'The Machine That Changed the World' by James Womack, Daniel Jones and Daniel Roos. The lean philosophy employs five basic principles of lean thinking: (1) specify value from the perspective of the end customer, (2) identify the value stream for each product, (3) create continuous flow of the product, (4) let the customer 'pull' the product and (5) strive for perfection. " ...