SupplyChainGuru

I think the title of this article in Supply Chain Brain is misleading. By "old ideas" the author is talking about JIT (just-in-time). A lot of manufacturers have never really accepted lean and JIT principles, nor incorporated them into their businesses.  Quote from near the end of the article: “It’s not so much let’s build up more stock,” says Lebovitz, “it’s let’s be better about how we analyze consumption rates, and resize safety stocks and order policies to make sure we’re keeping the right level of what we need and don’t need.” The solution, for all manufacturers, isn't just to move to "just in case" inventory across the board or simply increase their inventory. It about having a rigorous  #riskmanagement  process to understand where disruptions might occur and to take action, or have plans in place, to mitigate the impact. Now is also the time to work on  #supplychain   #collaboration  with partners up and downstream. Read the full article:  Time for Manufa

I have sold, and implemented, many ERP systems over my career, both inside industry and as a reseller. I have also studied lean and executed a number of successful improvement projects. I have always been intrigued by the relatively few articles about bringing the two concepts together. Most lean practitioners insist MRP and lean cannot co-exist. I would argue that you can bring the two together, albeit never perfectly.  Read the article and let's discuss: Can MRP and Lean Co-Exist (Part 1) About FarStar :  FarStar is boutique consulting firm with a focus supply chain transformation. With team members located in Canada and the US, the company has extensive experience across a wide range of industries including aerospace, defence, high-tech/electronics, and industrial products in a variety of business environments, ranging from make-to-stock to engineer-to-order.