What is Lean Manufacturing?
Software for lean manufacturing is about the elimination of waste in every area of production. The key focus is to do only what is needed when it is needed. Software for lean manufacturing focuses on reducing waste in overproduction, inventory or WIP (work-in-process), transportation, processing waste, motion, waiting and defects. The principle goals of lean manfuacturing software include zero waiting time, zero inventory scheduling, internal customer pull instead of push system, cutting batch sizes, line balancing, and cutting actual process times. If you're interested in manufacturing software you should check out Tuppas. Tuppas Manufacturing Software contains a large collection of browser based modules for manufacturing plants which are highly configurable. Their modules are browser based, and thin client for anywhere access. They have a lot of different examples to look at. They specialize in manufacturing ERP as well as MES solutions.
Highly configurable systems are outpacing canned systems and providing a path for innovation. Advancements in browser based technology are enabling agile deployment strategies.
Manufacturing software helps manufacturers improve production performance by providing visable control and reporting across the enterprise.
Who is using lean manufacturing strategies?
Deploying lean manufacturing strategies allows all businesses to become more profitable and competitive. Using lean manufacuring software will shorten lead times, reduce inventory, reduce operating costs, free resources and more. Some software companies, such as Tuppas Software Corp, help manufacturers identify areas where they can make drastic improvements in eliminating waste in the manufacturing process and then provide lean manufacturing software which allows them to implement and track the changes.Lean Manufacturing Solutions
Lean manufacturing solutions should help identify the biggest constraint or contsraints to production and maximize work flow through the constraint. This allows for maximum throughput for a plant, and gives manufacturers the ability to analyze resources and continuously improve performance. Software for lean manufacturing include production reporting and tracking, production scheduling closed loop recipe management, inventory and raw materials management, statistical and quality control, job tracking, preventative maintenance, inventory, raw materials management, material requirements planning, drafting/project management, employee training, continuous improvement, financials, customer relationship management, job costing, purchasing, and business intelligence applications.Manufacturing Resource Planning Software
Organization in manufacturing is essential to remaining competitive. Growing companies often find that their current software systems perform inadequately in an increasingly demanding environment. The competitive business market requires companies to be flexible in order to conform to new challenges and opportunities.
Agile Manufacturing Resource Planning Software that is tailored for specific facilities allows companies to leverage successful business techniques and test new procedures. With flexible software, one can innovate and improve the system over time to ensure continuous improvement will not just be conceptual, but be practiced.
JIT Inventory, MRP (Material Requirements Planning), SCM (Supply Chain Management), EDI (Electronic Data Interface) are all tool that can improve manufacturing resource planning. Many software systems offer these components, but only tailored systems provide changeable interfaces to empower a manufacturing team to exploit new procedures plus interactive in an advanced fashion with their suppliers and clients.
Lean Manufacturing Definition
Becoming lean is a goal of most manufacturers. What does it mean to be lean and how is it accomplished? Lean Manufacturing is the practice of using less input (ie man hours, materials, warehouse/production space, investment in equipment, etc.) in the production of goods. The benefits of reducing labor and overall spending without detriment to the final product are obvious. When implemented correctly, Lean Manufacturing allows a manufacturer to lower prices for their customers without sacrificing quality.
So how does a company become lean? In most cases there are many opportunities for a company to reduce waste. A good software system can aid in this process. For example, JIT (Just-In-Time) Inventory Software eliminates excessive warehouse space needed to store raw material and finished goods. Preventative Maintenance (PM or CMMS) Software ensures that maintenance is being performed on your equipment on a routine basis so that equipment breaks less often. Downtime Software in coordination with PM/CMMS shows which machinery needs attention and can suggest when one should purchase replacement machines vs when to replace a component of that machine.
Software also exists to implement Six Sigma, a set of procedures meant to eliminate defects. Defect Tracking, Quality and Statistical Process Control (SPC) Software allows a company to track noncomformant products and ascribe a reason for such a failure. The data is processed and displayed in a variety of chart, graphs and text-based reports to allow managers to understand the reason for defects so that they can remedy the most pressing issues.
Lean Manufacturing may seem like a lofty goal, but in most cases, there are many opportunities for improvement. A flexible software solution empowers you to take advantage of these opportunities without forcing you to redesign your entire operation. Tailorable software also provides you with the capability to adapt to new situations and innovate to outperform your competition.
 Manufacturing ERP |
ShopFloorReporting.com |
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Thin Client ERP |
Wireless ERP |
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Plant Schedule |
IBM |
| ERP | Industrial Control |
| Industrial | Lean Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing | MES |