As the dynamics of the global job market continue to shift, organizations are paying closer attention to how their operational performance is affected by personnel demands. Company productivity – long considered a matter of complex data and analytics – is increasingly being viewed as a human resources concern, particularly in regards to leadership development. With
Continue reading »H.C. Starck, a global producer of refractory metals and technical ceramics, has been honored for its implementation of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Sustainable Energy Management systems, as well as general excellence in manufacturing execution. Last week, the company was ranked in the 2012 Northeast Ohio Evolution of Manufacturing Awards, which recognize leaders in green
Continue reading »Healthcare leaders point to cost reduction, enhanced patient experience and improved clinical outcomes as the top three priorities facing the industry in coming years, according to a survey released this week by healthcare network VHA. The findings point to the value of Lean Six Sigma and other process optimization efforts in delivering effective care. However,
Continue reading »Toyota announced this week that it's global supply chain will soon be resilient enough to withstand and recover from another earthquake or natural disaster within two weeks. In response to last year's devastating tsunami, the Japanese auto manufacturer has been working diligently to protect its supply networks from disruptions of such magnitude. “We'll know by
Continue reading »Rising demand for commercial aircraft production is driving some producers to incorporate Lean manufacturing initiatives to bolster operational performance and improve their bottom lines. One such corporation, EDAC Technologies, plans to spend $3.8 million on new equipment and site improvements in preparation for new production demands. In addition to adopting a Lean strategy, EDAC purchased
Continue reading »Cobra Plastics, a manufacturer of aerosol overcaps, has benefited from a number of process improvement initiatives over the past few years. These programs, which include lean manufacturing and a kaizen continuous improvement initiative, have helped the Macedonia, Ohio-based producer to boost its bottom line while sustaining operations through the economic downturn. One of the lean
Continue reading »Lean initiatives offer businesses in all industries the opportunity to eliminate waste and improve processes. One of the most popular areas in which to apply Lean methodologies is in information technology. Industry Week reports that many ventures are choosing to apply Lean techniques to IT, while Lean concepts can also spread throughout all aspects of any
Continue reading »The internet has become a highly valued business tool. It enables companies to hold meetings digitally with people hundreds or even thousands of miles away, allows employees to quickly and seamlessly access and share data from anywhere in the world, facilitates the measuring and recording of data in real-time from remote locations and helps companies
Continue reading »In 1950, while America was ranked first in gross national income (per capita), Japan was ranked 29th, with the average American earning at least seven times more than the average Japanese. In 2009, Japan was ranked third, behind Luxembourg and Switzerland, and America dropped to fifth, with the average Japanese earning over $2,000 more than
Continue reading »As I have been looking over my notes from the last few publications and improving our curriculum for our upcoming Japan trip experience, I came across a new, overlooked concept from our newly published book by Shigeo Shingo, Fundamental Principles of Lean Manufacturing. Shigeo Shingo called it the Coefficient of Layout Efficiency. It is a
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