The hidden risks of AI-coded shop floor software
The rise of the amateur developer on the shop floor A growing number of manufacturers are attempting to use generative AI coding tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot, Cursor) to build bespoke internal apps for audits, downtime logging, or shift handovers. It has never been easier to prompt an AI model and generate a working […]
Why generalist AI chatbots fail on the shop floor
The reality of generalist AI on the shop floor AI can be a huge help in accelerated decision-making, as a driver of efficiency, and a way to reduce non-value added tasks for your frontline workers and their managers. However, there are a number of signs that plant managers are failing to get real value from […]
How Digital Lean protects quality during summer rotations
All quiet on the shop floor It’s the middle of August. Half your veteran workforce is taking well-deserved annual leave. Production, however, doesn’t stop. The skeleton crew remaining, often supplemented by temporary, agency, or cross-covered workers, is tasked with keeping the lines running. Meanwhile, your shop floor is taking the opportunity to perform deep equipment […]
Why and how to standardize lean across your factory network
Moving your Lean practices from a single flagship plant to your entire manufacturing network should be easy. But without the right foundation, scaling up can produce growing pains. If you want to stop managing isolated islands of production and start running a synchronized network, here is how you build shared standards that actually stick. The […]
How to improve your industrial problem solving process
Something’s not working. You’re already starting to see a drag on important metrics. Very soon you face a common question. Do you aim for a quick fix to boost the numbers? Or do you spend more time investigating, but risk the drag growing in the meantime? Effective problem solving is so important for factories because […]
mlean’s 2025 in numbers
We love seeing how our clients use the mPS. And it’s especially satisfying when we know it’s having an impact on key numbers. As you’ll see in our webinars or case studies, clients use our tool for different reasons. Digitalization is often mentioned as a goal, mainly as a means of driving greater efficiency, visibility […]
The benefits of digital skill management
Europe and the US are experiencing significant skills shortages in industrial labor. And according to a report from the World Economic Forum, 54% of employers expect this problem to worsen. The conclusion? You need to make better use of the talent you already have at your disposal. Letting capabilities and skills remain underdeveloped or overlooked […]
The most common problems in industrial skill management
In this post, we define and analyze several core problems factories face in managing talent, from training to career development. Your people are your greatest asset. It might be a cliche, but it’s true. Without a good team firing on all cylinders, you’ll never be as efficient, competitive, or profitable as you could be. But […]
A closer look at our new and improved HSE Risks module
Recently, we’ve been posting about the importance of agility in your operations and in your software. This matters for us just as much as it does for our customers. When a software stagnates, it’s the beginning of the end of its usefulness. That’s why we’re always updating and improving the tools we offer. Risk management […]
The importance of agility in risk prevention
There’s no industrial process entirely without risk. And these risks can have effects all across the shopfloor if they’re triggered. It’s no longer good enough to produce a static register of risks and safety procedures. With changing equipment, personnel, conditions, and materials, the way you record and manage frontline risks must be more responsive. Agility […]
The importance of agility in industrial B2B SaaS
Conditions change quickly for industrial managers. Well laid plans are one thing, dealing with a live shopfloor another. Though we like to calculate and predict outcomes, you always need to be ready for unexpected pivots, changes, and stops. How quickly you respond to these can determine success or failure. This is your agility. In this […]
How food and beverage manufacturers use the mPS
If you work in the food and beverage sector, we want you to know that we understand the unique challenges you face. Though lean manufacturing has always been hugely popular in sectors like automotive, we’re now seeing much more demand among food and beverage producers. It’s therefore a growth area for us as a company. […]