The Assembly Technology Expo celebrated its 30th anniversary in late September. Reactions on the show floor were mixed this year. Many exhibitors and attendees said business is “slow but steady.” They’re cautiously optimistic that the worst recession since the Great Depression is over.
ASSEMBLY sponsored several educational sessions at the 2009 Assembly Technology Expo, with lean-related topics attracting the most interest. Many companies are eager to apply state-of-the-art lean techniques as business conditions start to pick up.
According to Kevin Duggan, president of Duggan Associates, manufacturers that want to go beyond lean need to focus on “operational excellence.” Duggan says that requires “making a jump from just being a mature lean company. It’s not just about flow.”
Duggan claims there are eight principles of operational excellence: