MARCH - APRIL 2016MANUFACTURINGTECHNOLOGYINSIGHTS.COM6 With the advent of lean sigma approaches, the goal of achieving zero defects and wastage while opti-mizing resources and capacity in the manufactur-ing processes is no longer an unrealistic thought. Lean purists are seen knocking off the ill-effects of repetitive and traditional workflow methods across the entire chain, keep-ing a check at the costs and capital expenditure. On the flipside, the erratic climate of the technology market, expanding supply chains, and rising customer expectations are repressing manu-facturers from going entirely lean. Regardless of the situation, many solution providers have managed to actuate a philosophy of applying proven technology to increase speed, productivity, and profitability. Lean automa-tion tools top the list of manufacturing technology `favorites' assuring longevity and visibility into the factors that constrict manufacturing goals. Today, software and services are extend-ed to complex areas such as demand planning and forecasting, measuring inventory targets as well as tracking and tracing of processes and workflow. Manufacturing execution systems (MES), advanced planning and scheduling (APS) are used in tandem with lean automation software, allowing implementa-tion of approaches that serve as a substitute to the existing, tedi-ous manual processes. In midst of these trends, technology leaders and C-level ex-ecutives at manufacturing firms are often left to solve the miss-ing piece of the puzzle-- how to leverage existing technology to optimize on people and processes. The answer lies in bringing consultants and lean practitioners on board to transform and update manufacturing plans and schedules in a way that makes technology implementation less `technical' and taxing. The fine amalgam of the consultant's expertise on lean con-cepts and vast mix of technology tools available in the market will aid manufacturing companies to embrace the culture of change and innovation to witness tangible benefits across opera-tions and production processes. Apropos this scenario, we hope that the viewpoints and thought leadership of the lean manufac-turing solution providers presented in this edition would help in your waste elimination and lean deployment pursuits. Laura DavisEditor-in-ChiefManufacturingTechnology InsightsWrite to useditor@manufacturingtechnologyinsights.comCreating a Culture of Change EditorialCopyright © 2016 ManufacturingTechnology Insights, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permis-sion from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher as-sumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, pho-tographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine and accordingly, no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof.MARCH - APRIL - 2016Mailing AddressValley Media, Inc. 44790 S. Grimmer Blvd Suite 202, Fremont, CA 94538T:510.936.8381, F:510-894.8405 MARCH -APRIL - 2016, Vol 02- Issue 03 Published by Valley Media, Inc. To subscribe to ManufacturingTech InsightsVisit www.manufacturingtechnologyinsights.com Editor-in-ChiefLaura DavisEditorial StaffSalesVisualizerMichael WilliamsRuben Philipruben@manufacturingtechnologyinsights.com510 556 2283Ellen Pearson Joshua ParkerKathy Arnold Vivian MurrayTECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSTECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSVineet Nair
< Page 5 | Page 7 >