Webinar – The Power of Time

American manufacturing has been shaped by pioneers like Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford who developed techniques regarding scientific management and mass production. They minimized the cost of a product by analyzing the production process and breaking it into simple steps, each performed by a specialized worker trained specifically for that step. A sequence of such steps performed by low-cost, low-skilled labor could result in a sophisticated product, such as an automobile, at a relatively low cost.

These techniques to minimize cost brought the price of many products within reach of the common person, ushering in the era of mass production and huge industrial growth. This industrial model was based on high volume production, but it soon extended to where companies made different but similar products. Groups of people with skills focused on a particular process became functional departments.

With a focus on efficiency, each department has a supervisor to ensure the department operates at minimal cost. To do this, they must minimize resources, maximize utilization and provide value for what they are being paid to do. In a low mix, high volume production environment, this method works very well.

However, many companies in this highly customized world do not have the luxury of producing high volumes of the same thing over and over. What production strategy is needed for a manufacturer with a high mix of low volume, or even custom, products?

This presentation will point out some of the deep-seated management mindsets that are obstacles to shorter lead times and provide practical ways to overcome them. Examples of these obstacles include the need to keep our machines and people busy all the time; pushing employees to work faster, harder and longer hours; placing great importance on the “ontime” delivery metric, etc.

The audience will learn the difference between desiring shorter lead times and achieving them. Suppliers, Contract Manufacturers and OEM’s can all benefit from understanding the obstacles to shorter lead times that are “built in” to many enterprises today.

Content is based on a 2010 book by Rajan Suri, It’s About Time explaining the QRM strategy.