A brief discussion on the four production models of lean manufacturing in enterprises

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　　All enterprises need to implement lean production. So, what is lean production, and what form does it take? An expert in lean production management from Huatianmou explains the four models of lean production as follows: 1. Centralized production. Centralized production, also known as economic production, is an advanced manufacturing method that makes use of cost control strategies; it helps to eliminate waste, increase equipment utilization, boost labor productivity, and effectively reduce production costs. The methods of centralized production vary. For products with relatively stable demand, production can be carried out on a full-capacity basis in a concentrated manner, with continuous production over several months throughout the year; at other times, other products can be produced in a coordinated manner ； For products whose sales are not stable throughout the year, production can be carried out in intermittent periods – for 2-3 months at a time – with regular breaks in production arranged ； For products with a large variety, uncertain demand, and those for which certain production lines have dedicated staff, it is possible to arrange phased concentrated production. By doing so, while ensuring that demand is met, the staff on the production lines can be utilized to the fullest extent. Phased concentrated production not only makes optimal use of these staff members but also helps in training them to become versatile workers ； Production units that manufacture multiple products can arrange alternating batch production in order to minimize production costs within those units, such as by saving energy and raw materials, making efficient use of labor, and ensuring environmentally sustainable operations. 　　2 Uniform Production Uniform production, also known as balanced production, is a common production organization method for pharmaceutical companies that have high output and stable sales. Especially with the tightening of environmental regulations, many manufacturers of chemical active pharmaceutical ingredients face restrictions on their production capacity or even have to suspend operations for rectification due to high levels of waste discharge. It is therefore necessary to arrange production in a reasonable and balanced manner, taking into account the actual sales needs of the enterprises, their annual plans, their environmental performance, as well as the implementation of environmental protection measures. 　　From the perspective of production processes, uniform production involves balancing all stages of production by adjusting the workload across these stages to ensure that the processing time for each stage is as similar as possible, thereby continuously improving the balance of the production line. From the perspective of production planning, balanced production refers to production activities organized on the basis of balancing production parameters such as output volume, product types, and delivery dates. It involves distributing the production of products of different types and specifications evenly over a defined production period, so that each production stage completes its tasks according to the predetermined plans and schedules within a set time frame. 　　3 Emergency Production 　Emergency production is also known as Just-in-Time production (JIT method). As competition in the pharmaceutical industry’s sales market intensifies, there is an increasing number of orders that are personalized, specialized, and time-sensitive. Focusing on customer orders and relying on scientific management of regular and specialized inventory, order-based emergency production has gradually become an important production organization model that enables pharmaceutical companies to respond quickly to changes. The core of just-in-time production in the process industry is to pursue a production system with no inventory, or one that minimizes inventory levels. However, for pharmaceutical companies, emergency production based on sales orders hinges on ensuring that production meets sales demands on time. Therefore, basic work is extremely important; it relies on accurate sales forecasts and thorough production planning. It also requires coordinating various resources based on the overall capacity for production (such as production capacity, technical quality standards, equipment, environmental considerations, supply chain issues, etc.), and organizing activities according to regular schedules as well as emergency plans, in order to complete the production of emergency orders on time and ensure that sales demands are met promptly. 　　4. Inventory-based production Modern enterprises strive for an ideal inventory level – “zero inventory” – in order to maximize profits. Zero inventory refers to an ideal level of inventory for a company, as it does not require any investment of capital, space, or time. Pharmaceutical companies are often constrained by factors such as uncertain supply, uncertain demand, and the need for production continuity; therefore, product inventory cannot be zero. Safety stock, which is optimized based on cost and efficiency considerations, has become the standard for inventory management in these companies. As a result, inventory-based production has emerged as the optimal production model for achieving an appropriate level of safety stock. 　　The coordination between production and sales in inventory-based production is very important. If production planning is inadequate, it leads to a large accumulation of inventory on one hand, increasing capital occupation and resulting in waste ； On the other hand, inventory is insufficient to meet sales order demands, leading to passive emergency production. Therefore, in pharmaceutical companies, the production planning department and the sales department need to enhance the timely exchange of information, increase the frequency of sales forecasts, make full use of the market analysis conducted by the sales department, and apply statistical techniques to scientifically predict production, sales, and inventory levels. This enables a balance between these three aspects, and production can be planned based on the total inventory level along with sales demands. 　　In the actual production process, it is necessary to adhere to the principle of \"increasing production of best-selling products to the fullest extent possible in order to meet demand\" ； Key products are produced as needed, with inventory controlled to ensure proper stock levels ； Seasonal products are produced in bulk, with careful planning and organization ； The relocation of products takes inventory preparation into account, with comprehensive planning to drive progress actively ； Focus on developing strategic products, adopt a production approach that aims to reduce costs by meeting standards and achieving full capacity, and actively realize the lean values of efficiency and adaptability.