Four decades of manufacturing's hits, misses and smiles

摘要

After nearly 40 years of intensive observation of manufacturers and their attempts to implement just-in-time (JIT) production, lean manufacturing or Toyota Production System, I'm attempting to apply my industrial engineering skill set (such as it is) to sort out some of the good, the bad and the muddled. In this article I'll pick out a few highlights of that research seen in years past, with first emphasis on methodologies. While other researchers with similar aims have relied on survey research, mine is based on first-hand observation in which I've taken detailed notes, all under the general category of simplification. First, we consider unique examples of simplicity. Second are simplifications that are manifest in cellular manufacturing. The third is of configuring or reconfiguring the factory with simpler productive equipment, which entailswithdrawing "monument" equipment in favor of "lean" machines.Each of the three is potent in itself. When combined they become a dominating competitive force.