Zachary Kvale

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! We’re kicking May off with some great conversations you won’t want to miss. Take a look back on the latest episodes, interviews, conversations, and livestreams from this week right here. On Monday, we released 3 new episodes! In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott welcomes JD Redmon back to the podcast for a frank conversation about accessing the marketing solutions you need, the trend towards diversity marketing and hiring, how to use your voice to achieve what you need, and so much more. On This Week in Business History, Scott Luton explores the genesis of The Clorox Company, from the early entrepreneurial struggles to their international expansion, innovation & growth. On Supply Chain Now en Espanol, Enrique Alvarez welcomed Alex Meza with RioRev Partners to the podcast to talk about growing up in Mexico and the United States, Alex’s professional experience, and trade between the two countries. On Tuesday, we released 2 new episodes! On this episode of TEKTOK Digital Supply Chain Podcast, powered by Supply Chain Now, host Karin Bursa welcomes Jason Tham with Nulogy to the podcast to tackle the question- is your supply chain agile or fragile? On TECHquila Sunrise, host Greg White dives…