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What is Quick Response Manufacturing?
A powerful method for slashing lead times in all your operations!
Today's theater of competition for manufacturing firms is speed — not only speed of delivery, but of concept, design and production. New doors open for those who can get products to market before the competition, and success hinges on the ability to respond quickly.
Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) is a companywide strategy to cut lead times in all phases of manufacturing and office operations. It can bring your products to market more quickly and secure your business prospects by helping you compete in a rapidly changing manufacturing arena. It will increase profitability by reducing non–value–added time, cutting inventory and increasing return on investment.
Greg Renfro,
Vice President of Manufacturing at
Varco Drilling Equipment, says, "Quick Response Manufacturing will change the face of manufacturing as we know it."
Benefits of QRM
Does this sound familiar?
Our biggest customer is demanding faster response time. We provide a high degree of customization, and JIT is no longer helpful in our low-volume, high-mix environment. Our shop floor has become very efficient, but it takes too long to get out a quote or process an order. Our own response time is fine, but our supplier is another story.
If you responded yes to any of the above, then Quick Response Manufacturing is for you!
Reduce lead times throughout your organization
Decrease your manufacturing costs
Increase your market share
Fill customer orders faster
Boost product quality
Introduce new products rapidly
Eliminate waste and inefficiency
Secure your manufacturing future
From the Director
In today's global environment, Quick Response Manufacturing, with its focus on lead time reduction across the extended enterprise, provides a unifying theory that enables organizations to convert challenges into growth opportunities. The focus on time transcends organizational barriers and provides a consolidated perspective on what it will take to be competitive in the future.Learn more ...
From the Founder
People often ask what the difference is between Lean Manufacturing and QRM. See which four core concepts form the foundation of QRM principle and practice and why QRM is the most effective approach for manufacturers that produce custom-engineered products in low or varying volumes.Learn more ...
History
The Center for Quick Response Manufacturing was established in 1993 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a forum to learn the theory and practice of QRM and to help in the transition from the theoretical to the practical. Industry leaders and university faculty formed this partnership to consolidate the discussion and investigation of QRM principles and application based on Quick Response Manufacturing: A Companywide Approach to Reducing Lead Times, a book by Founding Director of the QRM Center Rajan Suri.
Nearly 180 companies of various sizes, products and locations have used QRM to reduce lead times, and nearly 50 of those continue as supporting industry partners. Center members have the opportunity to not only remain on the cutting edge of manufacturing, but to create it. The Center facilitates a partnership among industry, faculty and students at UW-Madison and conducts various lead time reduction projects, seminars and workshops throughout the year.