Materials, Advanced Design
&
Manufacturing
89
Keywords
Operations management
Expertise
To survive in a highly turbulent business environment,
manufacturers have to be efficient and responsive to the
needs of their customers. This often requires striking a
balance between becoming leaner – cutting waste and
reducing operational costs, and agile – being flexible
and ready to deal with change.
Liverpool works closely with companies, utilising expertise
in applying traditional approaches to implementing
lean manufacturing, for example; waste reduction, Six
Sigma, visual management and mass customisation.
It specialises in helping companies become more agile.
The University’s Agility and Supply Chain
Management Centre has developed a tried and
tested, staged approach to help companies
adapt and change. The first step is to identify
and address weaknesses in key systems and
operations; making companies less vulnerable to
dynamic changes in their business environment.
The second step of the process makes companies
more responsive to market needs by integrating
improved business processes and operations.
In the third stage, companies are supported to
think proactively and strategically to seek new
opportunities for growth.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Agility diagnostics and implementation tools
•
Simulation and modelling tools for optimising
manufacturing systems
•
Development and implementation of agile
growth strategies
•
Supply chain management and optimisation.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Agility and Supply Chain Management Centre.
1.7
Lean and agile manufacturing
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
