Nowadays, the manufacturing sector is facing several challenges due to regulation measures, environmental concerns, manufacturing skills gap between different generations, reducing cost as well as maximizing profits. One of the most important challenges for the manufacturing companies is to keep pace with the unstoppable technological growth that invades the world. As it is known to everyone, these companies’ ultimate objective is to make a profit by competing against each other, generally, in a global environment. To reach their objectives, every manufacturer is trying to improve its systems, methods, and policies to increase revenues and decrease costs. One of the most powerful systems today in the manufacturing sector is lean production system also known as lean manufacturing system. This system aims to optimize the productive resources and to eliminate any waste. Also, the management information system is usually geared towards simplifying work within an organization, for example, much of the work which was done manually by people in the past have been incorporated into computers which can perform better tasks than casual workers. For example, the clerks who used to search for information have been replaced by computer software which can come up with detailed and legal data of more quality than the one which the clerks used to come up. The coming report will discuss in details the benefits of implementing manufacturing information system for improving lean production.
Technology has significantly shaped the world today. Every activity can now be computerized, those activities which people used to do in the past have been amalgamated in machines which do much better than what people used to do. New advances have been established both in offices as well as in fields where people do casual work. For example in construction companies, much work which was done by individuals is now being done by very powerful machines, for example, tractors are now being used to dig deep into the ground where in the past individual used to spend a lot of time digging. The rocks which people wasted a lot of time carrying are now being lifted like papers by forklifts and moved by tractors. Work which in the past would take a couple of years is now taking days to be accomplished. However, technology has not only made roots in the fields but also it has advanced in every sector of the economy. For example, in the communication area, a lot has been done; people are now able to see one another and communicate irrespective of their geographical location. In companies managers are now able to manage several companies as well as business simultaneously, the introduction of the management information system has helped managers. Today managers can manage several companies as well as business simultaneously. The management information systems usually provide information concerning a particular company since the time it was made via the present. Besides the systems can give future predictions of the enterprise with this. Therefore, this paper provides more illustrations on management information systems and lean production.
Management information systems usually, emphasizes on how data is collected, also how information is disseminated for planning and controlling organizational as well as businesses. Through this management information systems enables individuals to gather relevant information about a particular company. How it started, how it is going on and also it gives predictions on how it will perform in future. The management information system is usually concentrated in areas which involve duties as well as responsibilities. For example in a company, one of the primary sector where management information system is applicable is in the office of the chief executive officers and chief technology officers as well as in computer security guards.
Among the many advantages of functions which this system perform, the main advantage of this is that it usually produces reports in every step or achievement which an organization achieves. The managers in an information systems can receive reports on every step undertaken. The manager is usually able to conduct several measures which will be aimed at correcting any error or problem which may be arising in the process of realizing the set goals and objectives of a particular organization. Also, a manager is usually able to motivate the workers to work harder and harder in their operations hence the success of the firm (Pascal, 2015). This system can be applied in many production companies, for example in lean production company this management information system can be easily incorporated to aid the managers to control the activities which usually take place within the entire area using lean production.
Lean production usually involves removal of wastes in a system. It is often associated with the Toyota Company in which it is highly utilized in the production sector. This system is typically related to empowering workers while at the same time looking for more ways of maintaining a healthy working environment within the organization. It is also associated with the future manufacturing of the organization (John, 2010). Due to this employing lean production in a body is usually of great importance in that in any case a particular resource within an organization is not productive it usually eliminated, in incorporating management information system in lean production the work of removing any material which is not used and which is termed as waste in an organization will be much simpler. For example, management information systems usually produce a report on the performance of every resource within an organization and therefore monitoring the progress is usually easily and hence an organization operates towards achieving their set goal. This, therefore, confirms that incorporation of management information system leads to the success of a firm. It is very much useful tool especially for the administration of activities being headed by people who are usually busy, or by people who do not necessarily need to be present in their places of work.
The success of the lean production is evidently seen in the Toyota industry where its application has resulted in the success of the firm. In any case, management information systems are applied, and the results will double and hence large production. Since the work which was being done manually will now be controlled by computers, in any case, there is a deficiency in the functioning of any machine it will be noticed at a glance and rectified hence excellence in its production hence the company realizes the set goals and objectives.
The manufacturing information system is a significant aspect attributing to the performance of an institution. Despite this fact, its implementation to a company has many substantial benefits, both short and long term benefits. Listed below aver some of the advantages accrued by a firm, shortly after implementation;
Manufacturing information system helps the company to realize improved quality. In this aspect, some endeavors in the lean surrounding are stimulated towards better excellence. This is because MIS generates problem-solving techniques which can be used to determine challenges whenever quality issues are evident. Additionally, preventive measures are also put into practice to curb recurrence of such a problem. Thus improved quality products are produced.
Moreover, it helps in realization of boosted efficiency- this is achieved through line harmonizing whereby, the manager ensures that all the members work within the stipulated expectations. Quality job acts as a shred of evidence that the staff is achieving efficiency, through the channeled methods. Besides this, MIS enhances improved management in an organization – the manager can correctly manage the entire institution through an optical scan. He/ she can identify the abnormalities associated with the system hence determining and resolving the problems with ease.
Manufacturing information system simplifies work- technically, lean manufacturing helps in reduction of human resources since a significant amount of work can be executed by use of fewer people. This is because MIS facilitates standardization and increases efficiency; thus the task becomes lighter for fewer people. From this idea, lean manufacturing helps the firm to reduce the cost of human resources, training to facilitate competent skill level; as well as lower cost of system maintenance after its implementation.