Effective management information systems (MIS) are key requirements for Lean Manufacturing

By Tom Polischuk

Last year, Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) formed its Center for Lean Practices as a source for training and consulting for Lean Manufacturing practices applied in the printing industry. A recent survey conducted by PIA/GATF and Point Balance, LLC—a consulting firm serving the printing and publishing industries—found that although 77 percent of North American printing company managers were familiar with Lean Manufacturing, about 40 percent of printing companies were actually using Lean Manufacturing tools.