Healthcare products manufacturer – Lean manufacturing programme
The client is a part of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and healthcare
products companies, and manufactures sutures and other wound care products. European
operations amount to about US$1 bn. The company wished to improve responsiveness
to customers (i.e. fill rate) and at the same time reduce manufacturing costs and
inventory. A lean manufacturing programme was embarked upon. This started with diagnostic
study to calculate anticipated improvements in the areas of: - labour manufacturing
cost -waste -inventory levels - cycle time - lead time Changes were made to the
planning processes, the line physical layout, the direct labour organisation and
relevant performance measures. All changes were implemented on time and targeted
improvements achieved ahead of schedule.
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