Lean Management Accelerates the Implementation of Intelligent Manufacturing in Rubber Enterprises

In the context of China's economic development entering a new normal, how to achieve intelligent manufacturing and build intelligent chemical plants has become a hot topic of widespread concern for tire and rubber enterprises. Relying solely on improving equipment automation or achieving automated transportation, testing, and warehousing of semi-finished/finished products is not a true intelligent factory. Intelligent factories must be built on lean design, manufacturing, and management.

Lean Management Supports Intelligent Manufacturing

In 2017, concepts such as Industry 4.0 and "Internet plus" were very popular in China. Industry 4.0 is a concept launched by Germany, called 'Industrial Internet' in the United States, and 'Made in China 2025' in China. These three essential contents are consistent and all point to one core, which is intelligent manufacturing. "Fan Rende, honorary president of the China Rubber Industry Association, who has been committed to promoting the strategy of building a strong rubber industry for many years and has conducted long-term research and promotion work on lean management and intelligent manufacturing, pointed out, The combination of "Internet plus" and manufacturing is Industry 4.0.

In the process of implementing and promoting intelligent manufacturing, awareness and understanding of lean production and intelligent manufacturing are also accompanied.

Deng Yali, President of the China Rubber Industry Association, stated that the development of China's rubber industry is currently influenced by two major global economic trends. Firstly, the world economic pattern has undergone profound adjustments, the overall development speed has slowed down, and global manufacturing competition has escalated. China is facing a "two-way squeeze" of advanced technology from developed countries and low-cost competition from developing countries; Secondly, a new round of industrial revolution and transformation is currently emerging globally, with intelligent factories and production becoming the main focus of the new round of industrial revolution and transformation.

Deng Yali pointed out that lean management is the key foundation and support for implementing intelligent manufacturing. The lean production information system, lean smart factory production line planning and design, and lean automation equipment configuration enable enterprises to achieve maximum profits with minimal investment, making smart factories efficient, low-cost, and more flexible, truly achieving intelligent manufacturing.

The deep integration of lean production and intelligent manufacturing is the only way for China's rubber industry to transform and upgrade. "Fan Rende believes that as a typical traditional manufacturing industry, China's rubber industry is necessary and has the conditions to implement deep integration. The ultimate gap between China's manufacturing industry and industrialized countries lies in efficiency and efficiency, especially in the rubber industry where production efficiency is only about 30% of the world's advanced level. Rubber enterprises should seize the opportunity and accelerate transformation and upgrading through the deep integration of lean production and intelligent manufacturing. China's rubber industry has previously implemented Total Quality Management (TQM) and Total Production Maintenance (TPM). In recent years, some enterprises have implemented 5S and Six Sigma management, and progress has been made in ERP, MES, etc. These have created favorable conditions for the deep integration of lean production and intelligent manufacturing.

Since the release of "Made in China 2025" last year, the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Integration of Manufacturing Industry and the Internet Development" in May this year. In mid July, the Office of the State Council and the State Council issued the "Outline of the National Informatization Development Strategy". The two documents further elucidate the significant importance of deep integration between manufacturing and the Internet.