Lean DOES work in tool & die

Our consulting firm, G Corp, is dedicated exclusively to all things tool and die. My interest in applying Lean manufacturing principles to the tool and die industry actually began before the word Lean was coined as a substitute for the Toyota Production System, or TPS, in the landmark book, The Machine That Changed the World, published in 1991. TPS is that "machine" and it certainly has changed the world. However, the tool and die making industry has not embraced the idea.

As a matter of fact, the general thinking in the industry is that Lean won't work for tool and die shops because we only make one of a kind products, namely, dies. I've written a number of articles on the topic for various trade industry magazines in the past several years. They are available on our website, www.gcorponline.net, for free. If you are in tool and die or stamping, check them out. Let me know what you think.

G Corp has developed a Die Factory System, DFS, which applies Lean for die makers as a total system approach, something that I believe has not been done anywhere on the planet, or at least no one is talking or writing about it. I'm interested in collaborating with shops and consultants that have done so or want to.