http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing
Flexibility (engineering) Flexibility is used as an attribute of various types of systems. In the field of engineering systems design, it refers to designs that can adapt when external changes occur. Flexibility has been defined differently in many fields of engineering, architecture, biology, economics, etc. In the context of engineering design one can define flexibility as the ability of a system to respond to potential internal or external changes affecting its value delivery, in a timely and cost-effective manner. Thus, flexibility for an engineering system is the ease with which the system can respond to uncertainty in a manner to sustain or increase its value delivery. Uncertainty is a key element in the definition of flexibility.
McKinsey 7S Framework Visual representation of the model The McKinsey 7S Framework is a management model developed by well-known business consultants Robert H. Waterman, Jr. and Tom Peters (who also developed the MBWA-- "Management By Walking Around" motif, and authored In Search of Excellence) in the 1980s. This was a strategic vision for groups, to include businesses, business units, and teams. The 7S are structure, strategy, systems, skills, style, staff and shared values. The model is most often used as a tool to assess and monitor changes in the internal situation of an organization.
Muda (Japanese term) One of the key steps in Lean and TPS is the identification of which steps add value and which do not. By classifying all the process activities into these two categories it is then possible to start actions for improving the former and eliminating the latter. Some of these definitions may seem rather 'idealist' but this tough definition is seen as important to the effectiveness of this key step. Six Sigma The common Six Sigma symbol Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement. It was developed by Motorola in 1986.[1][2] Jack Welch made it central to his business strategy at General Electric in 1995.[3] Today, it is used in many industrial sectors.[4]
Hypercompetition Hypercompetition is rapid and dynamic competition characterized by unsustainable advantage. It is the condition of rapid escalation of competition based on price-quality positioning, competition to protect or invade established product or geographic markets and competition based on deep pockets (financial capital) and the creation of even deeper pocketed alliances. Often a characteristic of new markets and industries, hypercompetition occurs when technologies or offerings are so new that standards and rules are in flux, resulting in competitive advantages and profits resulting from such competitive advantages cannot be sustained. In order to compete irrespective of how short-term the competitive advantage is, companies can implement a strategy based on finding and building temporary advantages through market disruption rather than trying to sustain an unsustainable advantage. Cost & Quality (C-Q)-leader or follower.
Aims and functions of production department Business organisation business studies and business english Production is the functional area responsible for turning inputs into finished outputs through a series of production processes. The Production Manager is responsible for making sure that raw materials are provided and made into finished goods effectively. He or she must make sure that work is carried out smoothly, and must supervise procedures for making work more efficient and more enjoyable. Five production sub-fuctions In a manufacturing company the production function may be split into five sub-functions: 1.
A Gamification Framework for Interaction Designers Gamification is a hot topic. Missed it? On Google Trends it first appeared as a blip in late October 2010 and then took off in January so quickly that it appeared on NPR’s Weekend Edition in March. Investors seem interested, and it already has a sold-out conference and a fast-growing list of agencies that will help you “do gamification.” You can even join a quest to become a gamification expert. As I dove into some reading, a framework emerged that helped me understand gamification generally, and also specifically how (or whether!)
Resource-based view The resource-based view (RBV) as a basis for the competitive advantage of a firm lies primarily in the application of a bundle of valuable tangible or intangible resources at the firm's disposal (Mwailu & Mercer, 1983 p142, Wernerfelt, 1984, p172; Rumelt, 1984, p557-558; Penrose, 1959[1]). To transform a short-run competitive advantage into a sustained competitive advantage requires that these resources are heterogeneous in nature and not perfectly mobile (:[2] p105-106; Peteraf, 1993, p180). Effectively, this translates into valuable resources that are neither perfectly imitable nor substitutable without great effort (Barney, 1991;:[2] p117). If these conditions hold, the bundle of resources can sustain the firm's above average returns.
Tanzania Overall macroeconomic performance has been strong, with inflation declining to single digits and gross domestic product (GDP) growth projected at about 7% in the medium term. The main drivers of growth are telecommunications, transport and financial intermediation, manufacturing and construction, and trade. Continued emphasis on sound economic management and strengthening political governance could ensure that the newly found natural gas resources will indeed play an important role in Tanzania’s socio-economic transformation over the medium term. While the structure of the economy has undergone some changes over the years, the slow progress in poverty reduction – largely due to underperforming agriculture and significant infrastructure bottlenecks – indicates that Tanzania is at best in the process of transformation. Nevertheless, underperformance in the agriculture sector – which employs 75% of the workforce – has been a key factor in jobless growth and chronic underemployment.
Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) The link you're trying to access is no longer current. To view the most up-to-date information about APPEL’s course offerings, hands-on development programs, and stories, please visit the APPEL website at We highly encourage you to update any old bookmarks or references to point to our new website. We appreciate your patience as we improve our online presence and we look forward to sharing new online features and resources with you. The NASA Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) contributes to NASA’s mission by promoting individual, team, and organizational excellence in program/project management and engineering through the application of its world-class training curriculum, hands-on development programs, and strategic communications to share project management and engineering lessons throughout the agency.
s Wi-Fi-Enabled Security And Automation Products Create A “Connected Home” For Busy Homeowners LYNX Touch 5100 and Tuxedo Touch™ Wi-Fi Leverage Honeywell’s Legacy in Security, Home Comfort CEA LINE SHOW, NEW YORK (June 27, 2012) – For busy parents who can’t be two places at once, the next best thing is a home that can tell you what’s going on with it, and can be controlled with a smart phone, tablet or other web-enabled device. This week, Honeywell ( NYSE: HON ) is rolling out two new security and home automation products to make homes smarter: LYNX Touch 5100 and Tuxedo Touch Wi-Fi home controller. Both products, the latest in Honeywell’s “connected home” portfolio, are being showcased during CE Week , a weeklong gathering of consumer electronics brands, people and events. The expansion of Honeywell’s connected home portfolio, which also includes programmable thermostats and applications to remotely manage comfort and security, is being fueled in part by the proliferation of smart phones, owned by nearly half of U.S. mobile phone subscribers, according to Nielsen .
Link Manufacturing Process and Product Life Cycles Summary by Christina Thayer Master of Accountancy Program University of South Florida, Fall 2004 PLC Main Page | Strategy Related Main Page | Structure and Restructure Main Page This article is the first in a two part sequence of papers (See note). The authors stress the importance of using a process life cycle in choosing among the different manufacturing and marketing options. The authors contend that simply using the traditional product life cycle for decision making can place too much emphasis on marketing alone. Individual companies will often find this to be too simplistic and misleading for strategic planning. Compare Tanzania and India, Compare prices Tanzania and India Compare the prices of hotels and restaurants, groceries, alcohol, clothes, entertainment, and transport in Tanzania and other countries. We compute the price levels using data from national statistical offices and international organizations. Compare prices in Tanzania and: Hotels and restaurants: India is 28% cheaper. India 4xcheaper
The scattered, futuristic world of home automation A connected refrigerator can, in theory, check your refrigerator for the ingredients you'll need for a particular recipe. Home automation lets you control simple devices like lights and blinds from appsThe home automation field is crowded with competing technology and companies Smart objects and sensors can be set up for security, saving energy and convenience Interesting objects are already connected, such as cat feeders, blinds, door locks and tea pots (CNN) -- The world of automated home gadgets is young and exciting, filled with an abundance of promising new products. It's also a bit of a mess.