The free newsletter of Lean Manufacturing Strategy
Books & Videos
The Strategos Guide To Value Stream and Process Mapping goes far beyond symbols and arrows. In over 163 pages it tells the reader not only how to do it but what to do with it.
More info...
Lean is about eliminating waste. It consists
of a set of attitudes, philosophies, principles, analysis tools and specific work structures
that form a production system. Lean is, essentially, a prescriptive or
pre-packaged Manufacturing Strategy that fits many (but not all) situations. At Strategos, we try to take
a
pragmatic and flexible view.
Here you will find many articles explaining Lean
Manufacturing and Operations as well as the various elements. There are
tools for analysis, downloads of Excel templates and forms. There are simulations and many real-life
examples.
Facility Planning & Plant Layout
Facilities
(land, buildings, equipment) provide the physical capability to add
value and create products. The most common manifestation of
facility planning (or lack thereof) is the Plant Layout. An effective layout incorporates and enables the manufacturing strategy on which it is based. Lean strategy starts with workflow and
workflow is the result of process and layout. Mr. Lee has authored two books and many articles on Plant Layout
and Facility Planning. His approach is organized, practical and systematic.
Manufacturing & Operations Strategy
Manufacturing Strategy
flows from the premise that a factory design, as any
engineering design, is a compromise between competing objectives and various constraints. We can
optimize the design for one or two objectives (such as cost, quality, delivery, new products)
but not all.
Manufacturing Strategy starts in marketing. It asks questions such as:
How do we intend to compete? or...
Why do customers buy from us instead of the competitors?
The answers to these questions lead to the "Key Manufacturing Task(s)."
Manufacturing must excel at this task to win orders in the marketplace. The task may be cost,
flexibility or another of several dimensions. From this Key Manufacturing Task, a set of policies
flow that guide
daily operations and decisions for purchasing equipment, setting priorities or designing a plant layout (for
example).
About This Website
We intend our site be a source of knowledge and information. The many articles, tools, downloads and products come directly from our consulting and
managing experience. Click Here for more about
content and navigation.
Manufacturing Strategy In A Nutshell
Our latest article discusses Manufacturing Strategy. This discipline existsoutside of Lean Manufacturing--linked but separate. We start
with an overview using our popular "nutshell" format and then discuss strategy in general and how it relates in the business context. Future articles will
address Manufacturing Strategy in more detail.
For
more than 25 years the Strategos team has helped clients understand and improve business and
manufacturing operations. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, we travel the world for training
and consulting.
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Our marketing premise is simple: If we share knowledge, insights and experience freely, some
of you will want more than words on a website, remember us, and call.
I hope you find your visits here interesting and thought provoking. There is a lot to explore,
so take your time.
Use the Past–Manage the Present–Prepare the Future
Our mature and experienced consultants offer more than just technical expertise. Through hundreds of projects we have learned how to build consensus and
merge our knowledge with the more detailed knowledge of the client's personnel. Use Consulting for:
• Intractable-Recurring Problems.
Intractable-Recurring Problems.
When problems seem to recur every few weeks or every few years, it is a strong indication that the root cause has not been found or corrected.
We can help your team identify the root
cause, develop permanent solutions. At the same time they will be learning the skills necessary for continued problem-solving.
• Disagreement/Strong Opinions
Widely Diverging/Strongly Held Opinions
Organizations frequently have individuals with strong, differing and/or opposing opinions. This can paralyze action or lead to conflicting actions, decisions and policies. Or, it can lead to unwise strategies.
The consultant is in a unique position to discover new facts, explore different perspectives, inspire creativity and gain consensus.
• Too Much Agreement
Too Much Agreement
George S. Patton said "If everybody's thinking alike, nobody is thinking.
This is known as "the Abilene Paradox" and is often found in companies with strong cultures. It may come from a corporate culture that emphasizes cooperation, civility and agreement at any cost.
It can also arise when a company or industry has enjoyed great success and the attitudes, techniques and values that created that success have been institutionalized but are no longer valid.
• Once-In-A-Decade Designs
Once-In-A-Decade Designs
Some types of projects such as a new facility plan or Manufacturing Strategy development are so infrequent it is rare that a company has much in-house experience.
A consultant can help to guide such projects effectively. These types of projects ideally meld the experience and detailed knowledge of those in the company with the wider ranging experience of the consultant.
• Developing In-House Expertise
Developing In-House Expertise
Consulting combined with training is often the best approach for developing in-house expertise. "Book learning" has its limitations and a consultant can notice subtle effects or unusual phenomena that would otherwise create problems.
This is particularly important in Cellular Manufacturing where
worker attitudes and inclinations play an important role. Small changes can make the difference between success, failure or sub-optimization. Many other areas of Lean are similar in this respect.
Sound Theory—Practical Execution
Strategos consulting projects range from quick assessments to the planning of major factories, offices and warehouses. We can guide the development of your
Manufacturing Strategy at the highest level or assist 5S on the factory floor. We can execute all of the work or guide a mixed project team.
Strategos Consulting>>
Strategos Lean Training
Targeted—Practical—Engaging
Give your people the skills to solve their own problems. We provide lean training that addresses the specific situations they face every day.
Often with a case study from your own facility. The result is a trained cadre of employees and an actual:
Problem Solved
Workcell Designed
Value Stream Mapped
Process Simplified
Strategos training employs proven principles of Adult Learning. It is full of videos, dialogue, exercises and experiential learning. Instructional methods
alternate frequently to maintain interest and address the learning modes of individual participants.
Our "Learning Team" approach engages participants, increases discussion and allows for large overall sessions (50 or more). Standard Program Listing>>
Our Expertise
Manufacturing Strategy
Forge Your Most Potent Competitive Weapon
Manufacturing Strategy
Forge Your Most Potent Competitive Weapon
Manufacturing Strategy is the overall philosophy or policy that guides the design and operation of a factory. A well-thought-out Manufacturing Strategy flows from and supports marketing by optimizing those factors that
bring success in the marketplace (e.g. quality, customization, price, delivery). We have been employing the work of Wickham Skinner, Wheelwright, Hill and others in practical situations for several decades. We have also
seen the unfortunate results of the failure to think through strategic issues. We can assist you in the discussion, debate and development of your Manufacturing Strategy.
Lean Manufacturing
Streamline Operations: Quality—Productivity—Speed
Lean Manufacturing
Streamline Operations for Quality, Productivity & Speed
Strategos consultants have been designing and implementing Lean Manufacturing for many years--before
Lean was known as Lean. We have contributed to the literature of Lean through hundreds of seminars, articles and papers
as well as with this website. Through this experience we have developed procedures, rules of thumb and techniques
to bring Lean to industries where the concepts seemed inapplicable.
Facility Planning & Layout
Make the Most of Space & Workflow
Facility Planning & Layout
Make the Most of Space & Workflow
Strategos consultants have written three of the most popular books on facilities
planning. We have done hundreds of facility plans from site-level to workstation level using our systematic and
structured approaches.
Cellular Manufacturing
Integrate People, Process, Product & Technology
Cellular Manufacturing
Integrate People, Process, Product & Technology
Mr. Lee has been designing and implementing workcells for more than
30 years--long before Toyota made them popular. While Toyota cells are ideally suited for Toyota, they do not work well in many non-Toyota
environments. Our structured design approach helps design optimum workcells in a wide variety of environments, including many job shops.
Value Stream & Process Mapping
Make Any Process Smoother, Better & Faster
Value Stream & Process Mapping
Make Any Process Smoother, Better & Faster
Let us assist you with improving any of your processes using VSM, Process Mapping and other improvement techniques.
Mr. Lee's popular book on the subject can be a starting point for your workshop or guided Kaizen Event. This is a "must" for any Lean Implementation or Workcell Design.
Warehousing & Supply Chain
Reduce Inventory, Stockouts & Space
Warehousing & Supply Chain
Reduce Inventory, Stockouts & Space
Sims Consulting Group, a Strategos Affiliate, literally "wrote the book" on warehousing with the U.S. Navy's 800-page publication
NS529. Ed Phillips is one of the foremost authorities on Warehousing, Supply Chain and Materials Handling.
The Human Side
Leverage Your People
The Human Side
Leverage Your People
People are an integral part of every manufacturing system. As such, their needs and limitations must be accommodated and integrated
with equipment, layouts and systems for best results. We start with the Socio Technical Systems (STS) approach originated
by Eric Trist to ensure that people and culture are woven into every design
Lean Office/Administration
Streamline Your Most Wasteful Activities
Lean Office/Administration
Streamline Your Most Wasteful Activities
There is nothing fundamentally different about an office. As the pioneers of Industrial Engineering such as Frank Gilbreth
understood, work is work and the same principles apply to factories, offices, hospitals and every other purposeful activity. Strategos has been applying Lean methods to administrative activities and
knowledge work for many years. Our projects include Maintenance, Engineering, Finance and Purchasing.
Facilities
(land, buildings, equipment) provide the 
Manufacturing Strategy
Our marketing premise is simple: If we share knowledge, insights and experience freely, some
of you will want more than words on a website, remember us, and call.
