Introduction
The concept of a supply chain system is the movement of a product from the supplier to the customer. This process can be very complex and mostly requires the investment of financial and natural recourses. It also requires intense strategic planning to optimize efficiency and keep up with customer demand. In order to properly implement this process, many companies have employed either the traditional supply chain or the lean approach to handle their production. This is because these two methods provide a strategic approach in manufacturing products. However, one of the two methods have been proven to be more efficient than the other in terms of waste elimination as elaborated in the latter part of this paper.
Before the lean approach …show more content…
This reduces the manufacturing duration and increases production speed.
Production plant
Specialized plants are often used to perfectly implement the lean system.
Strengths of the Lean approach
The strengths of the lean approach are listed accordingly.
Waste elimination
The lean approach is structured in a way that every step in the supply chain that isn’t adding value is considered as waste and is eradicated.
High quality
In the process of eliminating the waste associated with production, employees are taught the quality standards at each step of the process and empowered to correct defects. Since defects are identified early, quality is improved and the cost of defects is reduced.
Short queue time between operations
Because the lean approach uses the group technology to reduce the movement between operations, queue time is greatly reduced.
Reduced inventory
By using the pull system, every item produced is as a result of the customer demand. Each item is made just in time to satisfy customer demand.
Weaknesses of lean approach
The Weaknesses of the lean approach are listed accordingly.
Set up …show more content…
This might involve breaking walls, moving equipment’s around or even creating a new layout from scratch. After the layout has been changed, the equipment’s should be retooled to facilitate group technology and other techniques that are lean oriented. In some cases, the company might need to create a new specialized plant. This retooling process will help reduce waiting time, over processing, defects etc.
After the equipment’s have been retooled. The staffs should be educated on how to implement the lean operation and follow strict quality standards. The lean production schedule should then be implemented by introducing the kanban production control system. At this point, it’s safe to say that the company now operates in the lean operating system.
Issues with making the transition
The first issues with making this transition possible is to convince the top managers to believe in the lean philosophy. This can be very problematic because since the top managers play a vital role in every company, it’s very important for them to buy into the idea or else lean will fail. After that has been accomplished, the company has to worry about how this change is going to affect their short term goal and current
The concept of a supply chain system is the movement of a product from the supplier to the customer. This process can be very complex and mostly requires the investment of financial and natural recourses. It also requires intense strategic planning to optimize efficiency and keep up with customer demand. In order to properly implement this process, many companies have employed either the traditional supply chain or the lean approach to handle their production. This is because these two methods provide a strategic approach in manufacturing products. However, one of the two methods have been proven to be more efficient than the other in terms of waste elimination as elaborated in the latter part of this paper.
Before the lean approach …show more content…
This reduces the manufacturing duration and increases production speed.
Production plant
Specialized plants are often used to perfectly implement the lean system.
Strengths of the Lean approach
The strengths of the lean approach are listed accordingly.
Waste elimination
The lean approach is structured in a way that every step in the supply chain that isn’t adding value is considered as waste and is eradicated.
High quality
In the process of eliminating the waste associated with production, employees are taught the quality standards at each step of the process and empowered to correct defects. Since defects are identified early, quality is improved and the cost of defects is reduced.
Short queue time between operations
Because the lean approach uses the group technology to reduce the movement between operations, queue time is greatly reduced.
Reduced inventory
By using the pull system, every item produced is as a result of the customer demand. Each item is made just in time to satisfy customer demand.
Weaknesses of lean approach
The Weaknesses of the lean approach are listed accordingly.
Set up …show more content…
This might involve breaking walls, moving equipment’s around or even creating a new layout from scratch. After the layout has been changed, the equipment’s should be retooled to facilitate group technology and other techniques that are lean oriented. In some cases, the company might need to create a new specialized plant. This retooling process will help reduce waiting time, over processing, defects etc.
After the equipment’s have been retooled. The staffs should be educated on how to implement the lean operation and follow strict quality standards. The lean production schedule should then be implemented by introducing the kanban production control system. At this point, it’s safe to say that the company now operates in the lean operating system.
Issues with making the transition
The first issues with making this transition possible is to convince the top managers to believe in the lean philosophy. This can be very problematic because since the top managers play a vital role in every company, it’s very important for them to buy into the idea or else lean will fail. After that has been accomplished, the company has to worry about how this change is going to affect their short term goal and current