Prudent investment in systems

The author discusses prudent investment in systems, and relates to the situation in his own plant at Vauxhall Motors, Luton. He explains the term `lean manufacturing´ which has evolved due to the competitive pressures in today´s manufacturing world. It entails using less of all kinds of resources through making problems easily visible and solving them using minimum investment. Previously management did not accept that the person carrying out the job possessed the greatest understanding of the process, and therefore large amounts of human resource remained untapped. Lean manufacturing focuses on `one piece flow´. Only producing what is required, when it is required and in the quantity required, using minimum resources. This applies to services, information, etc. as well as product. It operates through the whole organisation from design concept, equipment and parts purchasing, throughout the production chain to the delivery of the product to the customer