lean manufacturing

Posts Tagged ‘inventory-reduction’

A Fulfillment Stream
A supply chain that embodies the principles of lean and therefore flows collaboratively and smoothly like a stream rather than operating as a group of connected links. The lean fulfillment stream relentlessly focuses on lead-time reduction by eliminating all nonvalue-creating activities (waste) among suppliers and producers that collaboratively create a product. This is accomplished through rigorous process discipline, inventory reduction, and first-time quality. The lean fulfillment stream flows to the demand of the customer; all supply stream activities are triggered by pull. The goal of the lean fulfillment stream is to deliver the highest value to the customer at the lowest total cost to stakeholders. (Adapted from Martichenko and Von Grabe 2008.)

The heart of JIT is quick changeover methods. Dr. Shingo, inventor of the Single-Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) system for Toyota, shows you how to reduce your changeovers by an average of 98 percent! By applying Shingo’s techniques, you’ll see rapid improvements (lead time reduced from weeks to days, lower inventory and warehousing costs) that will improve quality, productivity, and profits.