Category Archives: "Lean Outside Manufacturing"

As the global recession struck the wallets of both consumers and businesses around the world, demand for manufactured goods declined. As a result, many of these manufacturers were challenged to rethink how they did business. While there are any number of strategies companies can employ to make do in the struggling economy, one in particular

Cisco Systems, a leader in the field of business communications, had seen better days. Last year at the company's Partner Summit in New Orleans, attendees could taste the desperation in the air, despite executives at the meeting boasting key metrics – market share, profit margins, roadmap numbers, etc. Nonetheless, employees and company insiders said the

A Wisconsin-based paper and materials converting company has been selected to participate in a statewide sustainability and Lean manufacturing initiative. The program is designed to scale back material use, energy consumption, CO2 emissions and unwanted by-products, while also improving product and service value. Resource One International, based in Fox Valley, will participate in the Wisconsin

A recession is no time to expect rapid business growth. While the global downturn has since passed, its impact is far from gone. But one thing that savvy business owners have learned from the past few years is the importance of Lean management, operational efficiency and continuous improvement. By focusing on these strategies, businesses can

Lean management and process improvement are often associated with private sector endeavors, but many professionals in public and nonprofit organizations are beginning to glean similar benefits from optimization efforts. Scientists have always trumpeted efficiency as paramount to good research, but now they are beginning to apply Lean techniques to laboratory workflow and procedures. However, there

Telecommunications giant Verizon is launching a company sustainability effort aimed at cutting its CO2 intensity in half by the end of this decade. The effort will be combined with broad operational changes, philanthropic initiatives, marketplace solutions and community involvement. Carbon intensity is defined as the amount of energy needed to move data across the Verizon

Continuous improvement efforts have traditionally been viewed as strictly a business strategy, but the truth is many government agencies and institutions are adopting similar programs for their fiscal and operational demands. Anoka County, Minnesota, is one such example, as the district recently created a new position devoted to improving government and organizational efficiency. Mike Roff,

Supply management and spend analysis consultant BravoSolution reported this week that it sustained its eighth consecutive year of profitable growth in 2011. The company pointed to its process improvement and Lean management strategies as being behind much of the growth. Through effective supply chain management and quality improvement efforts, BravoSolution managed to glean a 95