Manufacturing Strategies and Technologies for Enhancing Global Competitiveness

Global manufacturing continues to become increasingly competitive, offering many challenges and opportunities.  Manufacturers today are facing these challenges by implementing lean manufacturing in an unrelenting quest to remove waste while improving quality. At the same time, strategies to achieve flexibility and profitable low-volume manufacturing are becoming more important as customers demand greater variety and shorter product life-cycles.  Advanced technologies—such as programmable machines and new forming and joining technologies—continue to play a significant role in improving manufacturing performance, while new materials and material processing involving plastics, aluminum, and steel are changing the way safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles are made. The accelerating pace at which both large and small domestic manufacturers are integrating a global manufacturing footprint into their business strategies is an important development.  In this flattening world, the emerging business model calls for identifying globally strategic partnerships so the right component is manufactured in the right place quickly, with high quality and low cost.

While the drive behind global manufacturing is achieving increased efficiencies, the transition period may be rocky and accompanied by significant hurdles.  The first challenge is identifying relationships that offer value.  Labor-intensive components can be made in low-wage countries with minimal automation and lower investment costs.  Engineering-intensive products are frequently produced in more advanced regions, often with advanced technologies and higher skilled workers.  Many complex products are made in multiple regions to take advantage of unique regional capabilities and advantages.  In addition to managing the logistics and inherent risks of working internationally, the traditional sources of innovation need to be reevaluated.  If profit margins are falling and operations are distributed around the globe, how will manufacturing innovation be funded and promoted across the industry? 

In these sessions, speakers will discuss world class manufacturing from a global strategic perspective.  They will speak about the importance of global competitiveness as a requisite for world class manufacturing.  In addition, manufacturing technologies will be presented that demonstrate significant advances and offer new opportunities for improving performance.

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