Matt Brink

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…

What a week at Supply Chain Now! If you missed an episode, get a quick summary and listen here. On Monday, we published an excellent episode with Jon Gold, the VP of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation. Supply Chain Now · “The Voice of Retail: Jon Gold with the National Retail Federation”   On Tuesday, Scott & Greg welcomed two APICS legends to the podcast, Anthony “Z” Zampello & Fred Tolbert, for a lesson in S&OP fundamentals and best practices.   Supply Chain Now · “S&OP Fundamentals & Best Practices: Anthony “Z” Zampello & Fred Tolbert”   On Wednesday, we published this week’s Supply Chain Buzz, with an update on Hurricane Laura from Riskpulse Chief Meteorologist Jon Davis, and then covered the top news in supply chain with Kara Brown and Will Haraway with Lead Coverage.   Supply Chain Now · “The Supply Chain Buzz for August 24th Featuring Jon Davis, Kara Brown, & Will Haraway”   On Thursday, Greg welcomed Flourish CEO Colton Griffin to the TECHquila Sunrise podcast for a great conversation on the ins and outs of founding a tech company, the start-up life, and the cannabis industry.   Supply Chain Now…