Recession Recovery…will you miss the boat?
Several weeks ago the local paper ran an article outlining the growth in manufacturing activity. “Manufacturing activity grew last month at the fastest pace in more than three years, a sign that the pace of the economic recovery is picking up…” Personally, I suspect that much of the benefit of the economic “Great Recession” is from a forced “lLeaning-out” of manufacturing operations both in head-count and inventory. However, this trimmed backed situation will only be a benefit if it can be maintained for the long haul. Manufacturing companies need to put in-place the technology to keep the personnel and raw material levels down while at the same time providing on time delivery. My fear is that most manufactures will not take advantage of this opportunity. Executive and Operational management must take the responsibility upon themselves to find ways to improve production through information systems focused specifically on a better approach to production. Why waste money on PC’s in the office when they must go on the factory floor. Why try to schedule with a spreadsheet when you can apply Advance Planning and Scheduling solutions that not only optimize to capacity levels but take inventory into consideration as a constraint. And why not take the time to wire up the assets on the factory floor to control the Overall Equipment (and Employee) Effectiveness (OEE). If America is expected to be it leader, then its manufacturing management should take the lead and not miss this great opportunity to use this time in our history to stay lean and fit and improve the productivity with better use of technology.
Posted on: Jan 19, 2010
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