Overview

World-class Demand Flow manufacturing is a company-wide business strategy. It recognizes that manufacturing can provide a distinct advantage for competing in the global, on-demand economy. This competitive advantage comes from Demand Flow Technology manufacturing and its focus on speed to market and market responsiveness. Demand Flow manufacturing technology reduces new-product-development time and substantially increases speed to market. Demand Flow manufacturing seeks to highlight and then eliminate unnecessary work in other words, anything that does not add value in the eyes of the customer.

Flexible people, employee involvement, TQC operational sheets, kanban management style, TQC product development, and flow-line designs are keys to the market responsiveness in Demand Flow manufacturing. DFT's objectives include world-class quality and high inventory turns, which lead to a higher return on assets.

Technology turnover the rate of new-product introductions used to be 5 to 10 years. Today, it is 12 to 24 months. Demand Flow manufacturing technology not only sets the stage for manufacturing excellence, it is essential to the survival of a manufacturing company. Demand Flow Technology depends on flexible people, customer satisfaction, demand-based manufacturing, and TQC-process technology.

Organization for Implementation

The company-wide project team takes shape at the beginning of the implementation process. A full-time project leader is named. This individual reports to the division manager, typically the vice president of manufacturing or plant manager. The team leader should have a solid and broad familiarity with the business, be well rounded in the technology and strategy of Demand Flow manufacturing, and be able to get things...