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Many companies are starting to use lean manufacturing strategies to improve their processes. But with so many options out there, how do you know which ones will have the most beneficial impact on your business? In order to help you evaluate the different options, we’re describing three of the best lean techniques and explaining how each has the potential to improve your manufacturing processes.
Manufacturers are typically referred to as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), but that is not exactly accurate. After all, these manufacturers only produce some of the parts that go into their original equipment. Whether the final product are cars, computers, or cabinetry, they get specific parts from Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers. Let’s explore at the different tiers.
The manufacturing industry is rife with safety risks, both visible and hidden. Maintaining a safe working environment in your facility is crucial for your employees’ well-being and your continued productivity. Whether predictable or unforeseen, accidents not only cost money but may result in a loss of trained workers and decreased productivity. The following tips are just a few ways to ensure safety is at the forefront of your industrial processes.
Technological advancement is one of the most significant factors that pave the way for the concept of continuous improvement. Be it the food and beverage, construction, or the manufacturing industry, every sector of the world is under the influence of this very concept of continuous improvement. From CNC machines to numerous manufacturing software, technology is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. The grasp of technology over the manufacturing industry gets stronger with every passing day. The following are technologies that are helping manufacturers improve their productivity and efficiency.
To outsource or not to outsource the fabrication of OEM parts – that’s the question. As much as OEMs may want to perform the entire manufacturing process in-house, rising competition and challenges in the market has many OEMs considering outsourcing as a cost-effective solution. The following are some of the top advantages of outsourcing your OEM parts fabrication.
The trade war between China and the US began in July 2018 with the US imposing tariffs on Chinese products. Several courses of discussions have taken place between the trade representatives of both nations, without any settlement anticipated soon. The current state of the negotiations is stalled as leaders of both countries do not wish to seem vulnerable and have established “cold war like” camps.
What is an OEM?
The term Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) relates to manufacturing, engineering, and sub-assembly of a product. But it can be confusing because an OEM manufacturer does not always produce all the parts in their product. In some cases, OEM manufacturers may make the final product or just components, especially electronics and automotive, that are sold to another OEM. These parts can be assembled and purchased via other manufacturers for their own products. In a nutshell, an OEM can be any manufacturer that makes and sells a part to another company to be used as a part of their product.
As an OEM or Tier 1 supplier, you know that part production is a considerable cost in your manufacturing process. Finding a cost-effective, dependable, and quality-focused Tier 2 supplier to manufacture metal parts is critical to your success and profitability.
OEM stands for original equipment manufacturers. This term is slightly misplaced as OEMs are not companies that originally create the product. They assemble and sell material and parts manufactured by other companies in the supply chain, under their own brand name and warranty. The OEM supply chain is comprised of three tiers. The dynamics between OEMs with its tiers is highly significant, and critical for creating and selling of products to the end user. In this article, we will delve into the different manufacturing stages required for supplying parts to the OEM.
With 2019, we can expect the manufacturing industry to see revolutionary advancements and reach new heights progressing further into the industry 4.0.
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There is little doubt that “clean energy in manufacturing” is a hot topic of conversation both nationally and internationally. Manufacturers strive to create and maintain the best energy usage without adding pollution to the environment. In fact, without clean energy advances, American manufacturers may risk losing their competitive edge over foreign competition.
In an increasingly global and technical marketplace, it’s more important than ever for businesses to utilize the best process to thrive and grow. Manufacturers must examine how to make their work process leaner. Lean is about driving a customer-focused culture across businesses, operations and people, to deliver products that meet customer requirements on time, on budget, and with high quality.
Flexible manufacturing is an integrated system of computer-controlled machines, transportation, and handling systems under the control of a larger computer. Flexibility is attained by having an overall system of control that directs the functions of both the computer-controlled equipment and handling systems. These computer systems are designed to be programmed or grouped easily with other devices to allow fast and economical changes in the manufacturing process. This ability aids in enabling quick responses to market changes and enabling mass customization of products. The following information discusses what makes a system flexible and the make-up an entire flexible manufacturing system.
What is Flexible Manufacturing?
Since the 1970s, flexible manufacturing systems have helped companies to create products quickly and more efficiently. It is designed to react and adapt to changes, unexpected issues, or problems with the production process. Today, Flexible manufacturing systems still work to improve the production process and offer two types of flexibility: machine and routing flexibility.