Advice from suppliers As businesses grow, one of the first places we turn for advice is machine suppliers. We buy a CNC and ...

Lean manufacturing and green manufacturing are not always considered at the same time as companies plan their factory improvement initiatives. Often, in “going green,” a company will aim for a certain ...

In the context of increasing global industrial competition and intensifying customer demands, there has been considerable pressure on U.S. small- and medium-sized (SME) manufacturers in recent years ...

On a roll for over 50 years now, Toyota Motor Corp. is the logical first place to look for a glimpse into the future of lean manufacturing. There a new generation is gearing up to spread the tried-and ...

It’s a question that crops up with amazing regularity: What’s next after lean manufacturing? It’s an odd inquiry, really, because it implies that you “finish” lean or toss it aside in favor of the ...

We’re living in a consumer’s world—everything they want, they get, and retailers are beside themselves trying to accommodate. Gone are the days of two clothing collections per year; now it’s multiple ...

The terms lean manufacturing and "just in time," or JIT, are often used as if they're the same thing, but they aren't identical concepts. Just-in-time manufacturing is focused on efficiency, while ...

Traditional manufacturing refers to manufacturing principles focused on producing a certain set number of products each period and holding a reserve in case of unexpected demand or shortages. This ...

There are a number of articles and books written on lean manufacturing techniques and lean construction, including many in the pages of Snips about applying lean in sheet metal shops. This article ...