The benefits of using Lean Manufacturing

Manufacturers of every size and product type of beginning to see the value of using Lean Manufacturing. Cutting costs and making manufacturing is vital to the long-term success of any company. Waste reduction and the removal of unnecessary process can literally save manufacturing businesses, millions of dollars a year. In addition, lean manufacturing, benefits not only the business, but the consumers of the products. This is due in part to the fact that the customers, get to enjoy increase value to their products. Another benefit is the employees appreciate their jobs, due to the incentives and motivational tools that are used to make the working environment flow better. The main purpose of lean manufacturing is to reduce cycle times, and get the products to the customers faster than anticipated. When this happens everyone benefits.

Experts advise that manufacturing companies, that have small manufacturing defects, need to implement lean manufacturing, because it will uncover some of these problems and help come up with solutions for these problems. The bottom line is that anything that does not add value to the business, product, or customers will need to be removed. Using lean manufacturing provides a business, with a distinct advantage over their competitors, since they can produce a higher quality product, for a lower price.

Lean manufacturing also helps to improve the communication process, between everyone, at every level of the company. This is important because when communication breaks down, within the company, the manufacturing process will have some glitches along the way. Lean manufacturing focuses heavily on informing everyone, on the supply chain, so that everyone can all come up with the same end result, instead of just focusing on one specific task.

A supply chain in any company often has excess waste, because employees duplicate orders. This leads to both a waste in time and money, for the company, not to mention the frustration it causes the employee. The only way to get back on track is to create a smooth work-flow, which requires proper communication with the supply chain. This is crucial since the supply chain is in charge of several things that impact the bottom line including:

• Transportation


• Machine set-up


• Inventory


• Quality consistency and inspection


• Material handling

It should be noted that lean manufacturing, not only helps to improve the different processes, it also finds ways to make use of wasted space. If you have small spaces that are not being used, you can do fairly small things to make use of it. Sometimes something as simple as moving some equipment around, or moving parts to this area, will improve the flow of production. Lean manufacturing can also help to improve delivery time, defects, handling of materials, and storage requirements. Since when using lean manufacturing, products are made to order, it makes it easier for businesses to use their employees, and equipment most effectively. Employee work time is utilized and down time for machines are rare or even not-existent, businesses that use lean manufacturing.

Most importantly businesses that implement lean manufacturing, produce higher-quality products, for lower prices. This allows these companies, to market their products faster, and control their marketing, and advertising costs. Proper control over cash flow will help with company expansion and development, and play a determining role in the long-term success of the business.

Lean manufacturing has been found to help smooth out business processes, between all departments. Here are some other ways lean manufacturing will improve can improve your business:

• Reduced cycle times


• Improved customer satisfaction


• Reduced administrative costs


• Waste reduction


• Generating profits by removing unnecessary processes


• Better control over the day-to-day operations of the company