The Impact of Digitizing Supply Chains on Lean Operations

Digitizing supply chains is a trend that continues to grow. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the digitization trends affecting supply chains and highlight some key benefits and challenges associated with such development. The chapter also examines the impact of digitizing supply chains on six key lean manufacturing tools and the seven common manufacturing wastes. The chapter reveals that digitizing supply chains positively contributes to making the examined lean manufacturing tools more effective. Also, digital supply chains provide valuable functions and tools to help organizations tackle the seven types of manufacturing wastes. This chapter presents information about digital supply chains and the kind of impact they may have on lean manufacturing philosophy. Academics, industry practitioners, and other interested professionals will find this chapter as a good reference on how lean manufacturing concept is impacted by the digitization of supply chains.