Is ‘Lean’ getting ‘Mean’ for auto?

Yes, of course, and we mean that quite literally. The COVID pandemic has opened doors for auto makers to streamline their supply chains and ready themselves for future mobility to become both, leaner and meaner. The automotive industry is in a transitional phase towards electric mobility and industry experts believe that this is an apt time to review, reflect and redefine supply chain strategies, and get a leaner approach across the product development cycles. They believe that cost and operational efficiencies, data sharing within the supply chain, understanding supply chain risks and more importantly, digitalization across value chain, would play a key role in the entire vehicle lifecycle, while multi-supplier bases closer to home would become the focus of many henceforth.  "Though at first sight it may seem that the founding principles of 'Lean' are being questioned, we believe that the approach of Lean 2.0 powered by Digital, Automation, and ICT (Information & Communication Technology) will open up wider arenas for our journey of Operational Excellence," says Ganesh Mani S, Director – Production, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. The COVID situation has prompted industries across sectors to re-look at operational systems and would allow new practices to come to the forefront.