Brad Hendrickson

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…

Stay up to date on all the latest conversations, interviews, and episodes we released this week here at Supply Chain Now! Kelly Barner and Scott Luton brought in the week with an episode of Dial P for Procurement on Supply Chain Now. For this episode, the P in Dial P is for payments. Kelly and Scott welcome Kris Lance with Una and Jim Luff with Chosen Payments, to the show. For Monday’s This Week In Business History, Scott covers the many hats that Ray Kroc wore as he built the Mcdonald’s global brand. On Tuesday, we released another episode of TEKTOK with Karin Bursa and special host Kevin L. Jackson. This episode is all about BLOCKCHAIN, from the basics to process improvements. On Wednesday’s episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott and Greg welcomed Tim Holland, Contingent Workforce and Talent Acquisition Leader and Barb Sexton Vice President, Partner Development for Corporate Services with OMNIA Partners, LIVE to the show as they broadcast from the OMNIA Partners 2021 Connections Event in Miami. Scott and Greg had another opportunity to chat with OMNIA Partners leaders at the 2021 Connections Event as they welcomed Stephen Laratta, Vice President of Partner Development, MRO and Facilities…