Over the past 30 years, we were led to believe that computerized systems would provide the solution to all of our growth and profit problems. In manufacturing panning and control system sophistication was to provide the tools for getting the right material in the right quantity to the right place at the right time. In engineering, Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems were to be the high-tech innovation for improving engineering design and speeding the time-to-market process. In sales/service, IBM was to provide the missing link in effective business communications while the Internet was to improve order sales capture rates and order processing speed.  

A few success stories but most system results came up short of expecta-tions. What’s required is first a company-wide, in-depth understanding of the fundamental importance of manufacturing basics and then a total com-mitment to the consistent and tenacious execution of the 8-Basics of Lean Manufacturing.