Justin Griffith

We are proud to announce that Scott Luton, Founder and CEO of Supply Chain Now, has once again been recognized as the #1 Global Thought Leader and Influencer on Supply Chain for 2025 by Thinkers360—marking his second consecutive year at the very top of this prestigious list. This exceptional distinction reaffirms Scott’s ongoing leadership and influence in the global supply chain arena. Under his dynamic stewardship, Supply Chain Now has grown into an award-winning digital content platform—delivering podcasts, livestreams, webinars, and virtual events that resonate across more than 60 countries. Scott’s voice continues to shape and empower the industry, inspiring professionals worldwide with insights that drive innovation and progress. Learn more here.

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…