Lean Manufacturing has become very popular in recent years, as a result of the initial success of its methods in the Japanese automotive industry and a climate of fiscal restraint, where the idea of “lean” was obviously widely accepted.
With the goal of making things easier and more efficient, Lean Manufacturing was first seen as the natural enemy of heavy and expensive IT systems, a category in which the systems of the Manufacturing Execution System could be wrongly classified. But are Lean and MES really enemies?
Lean Manufacturing has become very popular in recent years, as a result of the initial success of its methods in the Japanese automotive industry and a climate of fiscal restraint, where the idea of “lean” was obviously widely accepted. With the goal of making things easier and more efficient, Lean Manufacturing was first seen as the natural enemy of heavy and expensive IT systems, a category in which the systems of the Manufacturing Execution System could be wrongly classified. But are Lean and MES really enemies? What waste? Seven types of waste can be identified: Overproduction Over-stocking or unnecessary stock Unnecessary transport and travel Over-processing or unnecessary processing Unnecessary movements Errors, defects or scrap Waiting times and deadlinesThe 5S methodDid you say Kaizen?Lean Manufacturing and its limits In recent years, after going beyond its original framework - the organization of production - Lean Manufacturing is now perceived as a relevant alternative against all types of inefficiency. Applying Lean principles, including the continuous improvement of the system, requires profound changes in organizations. Problem solving as closely as possible to the field, involving both operational and managerial staff, is a first major change, since change is perceived in large organizations as something that follows the chain of command from top to bottom, where little autonomy is left to those in the field in terms of taking initiatives. Finally, there are those who question this method by pointing to the deterioration of working conditions: an in-depth search for profit by reducing waste could prove dangerous for workers' health: by removing unnecessary gestures, lean management intensifies work efforts and can generate musculoskeletal disorders.Lean Manufacturing & MES synergyConclusion MES and Lean are thus complementary and not independent as some make them out to be. An MES tool will then play a key role in the success of the Lean Manufacturing process. Guaranteeing continuous improvement, reduction of waste and improved response times, an MES tool undoubtedly adds value : time saving, availability of increased resources to maintain and optimize the performance of operations within the company. Discover the COOX offer Ask for information
