Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Report: Cost Containment, Lean Top 2005 Initiatives

FRAMINGHAM, MA, Jan. 18 - Manufacturers in 2005 will look for ways to drive down the cost of information delivery while seeking opportunities to invest in product development, demand management and supply network operations.

So says a new report from Manufacturing Insights. The research firm also says

Profitable growth remains at the top of the manufacturer's agenda, but will come from emerging markets and new services.
Smart companies will combine Lean, Six Sigma, and IT investment oversight into a common transformation governance structure.

Renewed interest in supply chain applications and projects that deliver "productive fulfillment."

Supply chains will be calibrated to demand information making the aggregation, organization, and integration of this information critical to success.

Use of best practices such as product portfolio management will be become more widespread.

Manufacturing Insights is an arm of IDC Co., the market research firm.