MARCH 20176 MANUFACTURINGTECHNOLOGYINSIGHTS The transformation from traditional manufacturing to lean manufacturing has empowered the companies to deliver quality products on time, at low cost and with greater efficiency. In fact, lean is one of the biggest management ideas of the past century and has come a long way from its popular use in streamlining Ford's moving assembly line for Model T and Toyota's Toyota Production System (TPS). In most recent years, the idea of lean has evolved from its superficial "prevent and eliminate non-value added processes" into a management discipline that puts customers first by proactively knowing their needs and then delivering it to them in efficient way. The idea is also about enabling workers to contribute to their fullest potential, constantly search for better ways to execute tasks, and seamlessly connect with the company's strategies and goals. In fact, the more manufacturers gain exposure to lean, the more they seek to drive value from it. They are leveraging the proliferation of new data sources coupled with powerful analytics applications to efficiently address frontline problems related to labor management--from improving schedule with just-in-time production, or stopping a production line as soon as there's an issue. In wake of fourth industrial revolution, lean is supported by IoT to realize a truly lean enterprise through better metrics, increased efficiency and productivity, and tighter integration with clients and suppliers. However, lean is not a one size fits all strategy implemented overnight. It is often easier to work around the lean principles to hit short term goals, but it undermines lean initiatives, turning it ineffective. Also, gains made by individual applications within the lean manufacturing could be lost over short time due to changing focus of lean culture. And finally, the employees may resist the changes to the processes unless there are policies that redeploy them in a productive manner. Our goal with this special edition is to highlight companies that offer best-of-breed lean manufacturing solutions and help you in your transition toward lean manufacturing. This edition blends thought leadership from subject matter experts with real stories on what selected vendors are doing for their clients, including exclusive insights from CIOs and CXOs. Write to us your thoughts.Go LeanEditorialCopyright © 2017 ValleyMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 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-2017LEAN MANUFACTURING SPECIALMailing AddressValleyMedia, Inc. 44790 S. Grimmer Blvd Suite 202, Fremont, CA 94538T:510.936.8381, F:510-894.8405 MARCH-2017, Vol 03- Issue 03 Published by ValleyMedia, Inc. To subscribe to ManufacturingTechnology InsightsVisit www.manufacturingtechinologysights.com Editor-in-ChiefLaura DavisEditorial StaffSalesVisualizerMichael WilliamsLawrence Tse lawrence@manufacturingtechnologyinsights.comT:510.402.1464Ava Gracia Kyle SummersPeter ThomasVivian MurrayTECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSTECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSLaura DavisEditor-in-ChiefManufacturingTechnology InsightsWrite to useditor@manufacturingtechnologyinsights.com
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