What kind of framework needs to be put in place to enable manufacturing firms to improve their performance ? Ken Hurst puts the question to a boss at Britain's best factory, an academic and a global operational planning expert
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Be warned: for the time being, you have to devise systems to help you meet unframed waste and hazardous substance regulations. John Dwyer reports
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Business improvement is all about management commitment and encouragement. Brian Tinham talks to troubleshooter Mike Robinson
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Gearing companies’ IT and manufacturing strategies for ‘mass customisation’ isn’t trivial – it requires management at multiple levels and fundamental business, internal process and supply chain changes. Brian Tinham investigates what’s involved, what works best and why
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IBM Greenock’s manufacturing strategy manager, Colin Archibald, talks to Dean Palmer about the company’s global strategy to standardise on shopfloor data collection and supply chain planning software
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‘Collaborative commerce’ may sound fanciful, but not to Rolls. Brian Tinham talks to Julie Scattergood about her systems
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By introducing strategic sourcing and leveraging procurement globally, IBM estimates that it has saved several billion dollars. And adding e-procurement software has saved a further $300-400 million. Dean Palmer visited the company’s European manufacturing site to discover the secrets behind the success
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Using web-based alerts and event management software to communicate production and forecast data and delivery schedules in real time with other sites and your suppliers, can save you precious time and eliminate waste from the supply chain, writes Dean Palmer
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When sub-sea systems manufacturer FMC Energy Systems needed to improve the profitability and efficiency of its large scale engineering project work, it turned to TOC and FCS. Brian Tinham explains
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When Dr Linda Bell took over Servomex, she inherited a firm out of control. Brian Tinham talks to her about her TOC implementation
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Six Sigma may well be profitably applicable to far more manufacturers than you might think. Andrew Ward explains what can and is being achieved, how and what it’s worth
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To ensure IT projects are delivered on time and within budget, companies need to ensure the project team is talking the same language. Dean Palmer reports
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In the second of our 2002 series on time and attendance systems, Annie Gregory looks at how linking T&A into production systems can pay back
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Sourcing IT for your business means checking a vendor’s financial health. But are we being misled by different accounting methods? Dean Palmer reports
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Last month’s round table MCS Forum involving senior manufacturing end users, consultants, analysts and IT vendors, tackled the controversial Theory of Constraints. Brian Tinham reports
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