McKesson, the leading pharmaceutical distributor providing medical supplies and healthcare IT and driving more than $120 billion in annual sales, engaged with Ultriva by Upland to perform an onsite diagnostic visit to evaluate McKesson's supply chain "vital signs.” This pilot program identified multiple areas for improvement.
Read MoreTopics: inventory, lean manufacturing, ekanban, supplier kanban, Supplier Collaboration, pull, six sigma, supply chain visibility
A commercial truck manufacturer was tasked with eliminating waste in its manufacturing process as part of an enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiative. The solution has to implement Lean Manufacturing principles and a pull-based electronic inventory Kanban system.
Read MoreTopics: inventory, lean manufacturing, ekanban, supplier kanban, Supplier Collaboration, pull, supply chain visibility
Ultriva by Upland recently completed a comprehensive lean solution for a leading laboratory equipment manufacturing company which designs, manufactures, and sells scientific equipment and instruments to customers worldwide. It has approximately 39,000 employees globally and supplies customers within hospitals, research facilities, labs, and pharmaceutical companies.
Read MoreTopics: supply chain, collaboration, inventory, ekanban, Supplier Collaboration, pull
Dedicated inventory locations, while not required, are much easier to establish and maintain when a part is on supplier eKanban for two reasons. First, with supplier eKanban the supplier is required to ship materials in standard lot and container sizes which often dictate the type of storage. Secondly, maximum inventory levels are more predictable with eKanban allowing you to plan dedicated storage space for each item. Maximum inventory for an eKanban item = (Total # of kanbans in loop) x (standard kanban lot size).
According to Nandu Gopalun, Professional Services leader with Upland, Ultriva by Upland provides loop size variability. He outlined the distinct advantage that can be achieved with dedicated inventory locations. The grocery store always keeps items in the same place making the shopping experience easier. Similarly, loop size variability helps the material handler to handle the inventory so they do not have to chase the parts needed.
Read MoreTopics: kanban, inventory, ekanban, loop, inventory location, maximum inventory
For the past seventeen years Ultriva by Upland has implemented successful supplier eKanban programs.
Read MoreTopics: kanban, ekanban, optimization
