Tracking lean (automated shop floor data-capture technologies for lean automotive manufacturing)

We investigate how automated shop floor data-capture technologies enable lean automotive manufacturing. The concept of lean automotive manufacturing involves identifying the production factors leading to success in the global automobile manufacturing industry. Data capture is any kind of information-gathering needed to manage the value-production process while the goal of automation is to narrow the margin for error as much as possible. The rationale for instituting a data-capture system is it reduces the cost of acquiring and moving information around. Auto data-collection (AIDC) technologies eliminate the labour-intensive and costly paper pushing that typically permeates shop floor processes, which enables companies to reduce costs. In this paper, we discuss the advantages gained by automotive companies such as Volvo Truck Company and Honda supplier Listowel from data-capture systems.