This Week on Supply Chain Now: April 11-17

Lean manufacturing is all about reducing waste and increasing efficiency. Manufacturers have been implementing lean practices for decades and have stood the test of time. Now, with technological advancements, lean methodologies can be more transformative than ever before. “Integrating automation into lean manufacturing is a powerful strategy. Unlike traditional automation, which often aims to increase production capacity without considering real needs, lean automation focuses on the smart and selective application of technologies to meet specific continuous improvement goals and eliminate inefficiencies,” the Kaizen Institute said. “Digital transformation provides an unprecedented opportunity for implementing lean,” it continued. “When applied within lean, tools like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics can revolutionize how organizations detect and eliminate waste.” What is Lean Manufacturing? In “The Machine That Changed The World,” published in 1990, lean production is hailed as “Toyota’s secret weapon in the global car wars.” The Toyota Production System was developed following World War II from “a series of simple innovations … to provide both continuity in process flow and a wide variety in product offerings,” according to the Lean Enterprise Institute. In “Lean Thinking,” a 1996 follow-up to “The Machine That Changed The World,” authors James…

First, it was print, then radio and television, but with the advent of the internet, the effect of mass media multiplied a hundredfold. Today, information reaches the ends of the globe instantly, and some of the main drivers of that are video and podcasts, albeit aided by different social media platforms. Both are powerful mediums for communicating trends and news in any industry. Supply chain podcasts play a crucial role in disseminating information, serving as a powerful tool for enlightening the public. Delivering Authentic Expertise in a Cluttered Digital Landscape Industry professionals and even the general public seem to have an insatiable appetite for news, trends, and analysis of events impacting the supply chain, businesses, and the economy at large. Podcasts and videos offer people deep insights into the minds of industry experts and decision-makers on such topics as manufacturing, sourcing, supplier management, warehousing, logistics sustainability, and inventory management. Despite its many great qualities, social media can get noisy. For instance, on LinkedIn, many claim to be experts, sharing verified and unverified information about the supply chain industry. Finding the right source can be confusing, especially with the prevalence of irresponsibly published content and clickbait journalism. For stakeholders in the…