Richard Donaldson

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…

Listen up to the latest episodes, interviews, conversations, and livestreams from Supply Chain Now this week!   On Monday, Scott Luton and guest host Will Haraway welcomed JP Wiggins with 3Gtms for a conversation on transportation management and even a little baseball!   On Tuesday, Host Karin Bursa welcomed supply chain genius Criag Ablin to TEK TOK to discuss the 6 levers that drive digital and physical success.     On Wednesday, we kicked off our Reverse Logistics series in partnership with the Reverse Logistics Association featuring Chuck Johnson, COO of goTRG. Tune in for a great conversation about peak returns season, with passionate opinions from Chuck, our hosts Scott, Greg, and Tony Sciarrotta, and our audience!   On Thursday, Scott Luton, Greg White, and Enrique Alvarez sat down to discuss all the top news and biggest stories in supply chain this week on The Supply Chain Buzz.   On Friday, Scott Luton dived into the top news in business, including industry developments in the tech and talent sector, aviation, the beverage industry, and more!   And we wrapped up with a bonus livestream this Saturday to discuss Supply Chain leadership across Africa. Which was your favorite episode? Make sure…