Canon Demonstrates the Value of Lean Document Principles for the Manufacturing Industry at APICS 2016

MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — While leading manufacturers embrace lean principles for production processes, this is not always the case across the rest of their organizations. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will help demonstrate the value of Lean Document Processes at the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) 2016 conference taking place at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., from September 25 to 27.

Attendees are encouraged to participate in the APICS Learning Tracks panel discussion, taking place Monday, September 26 from 2:30-3:45 p.m., to learn how their business can benefit from the advantages of lean document processes. Based on research conducted by the MPI Group, a Next Gen Manufacturing research company, Canon and MPI will discuss how lean principles, combined with imaging technologies, can help manufacturing and supply chain professionals improve document workflows, protect confidential information, improve document efficiency and reduce waste. Those in attendance will also hear how applying these principles has assisted Quantum Rehab, a global healthcare mobility company and division of Pride Mobility.

“Quantum Rehab is dedicated to delivering the best possible complex rehab product solutions for each unique individual. With hundreds of options available for each wheelchair design, it’s imperative that the user manuals are not only customized, but accurate,” said Jay Brislin, vice president, Quantum Rehab. “Leveraging Canon’s technology and integrating lean best practices into our manufacturing process has not only helped ensure that we deliver quickly for our customers, but that we deliver it right the first time.”

“The quantity of data and documents in today’s modern manufacturing environment is unprecedented,” said John Brandt, chief executive officer and founder, The MPI Group. “However, by applying the principles of lean management to document and data flow, businesses can improve productivity and security.”

In addition to the seminar, Canon, as a Silver Sponsor of the conference, will also exhibit workflow solutions at booth #401 to help the manufacturing industry optimize document business processes and learn how to help strengthen their business.

Document Security Features
The unstructured nature of document workflows of some manufacturing environments, caused by factors such as few policies, inefficient processes, lack of standardization and limited monitoring, can put sensitive information at risk. Among the solutions showcased at the booth will be uniFLOW with Secure Audit Manager Express, which can monitor, log and track user document activity from Canon multifunction printers. Whether a user is scanning, copying, printing or faxing, this solution can identify key words in documents and send an alert to a designated recipient if the keyword is detected, helping to prevent information from being leaked. uniFLOW with Secure Audit Manager Express is an excellent solution for a manufacturer that is concerned about sensitive information distribution through their MFPs*.

Help Reduce Waste and Costs
While paper-based business processes have their place in the manufacturing industry, making paper work effectively can be a key element in helping to drive down cost, eliminate waste and help with aspects of securing information. Lean document processes aid in controlling printing over networked devices with rules and policies, minimizing redundant costs and other wastes, while assisting to boost transparency and accountability of the users. Canon will also showcase solutions that can help manufacturers to minimize waste and costs. One example, uniFLOW, monitors printing devices, employees and usage to provide insight into how time and resources are being allocated. Featuring intelligent controls, print policies can be enforced across a company with rules-based routing, enabled printer defaults and access restrictions to printing functions based on job roles to help ensure time and resources are being used effectively.

Document Workflow Efficiency
By implementing lean document processes, manufacturers can eliminate bottlenecks that can slow work and efficiency, primarily by helping to standardize processes, increase speed and accuracy. Visitors to the booth will also learn about specific services and solutions that can help to automate workflows and boost efficiency. For example, Therefore™ information management software can help eliminate bottlenecks and standardize lean workflows, helping to reduce training time and streamline repetitive document workflows. As workforces are typically expanded and contracted based on business needs, HR is a critical function in manufacturing. When used for HR Onboarding, Therefore™ allows businesses to implement an automated process with security features to help improve the processing of new employees. Another solution, Accounts Payable Procure to Pay, can streamline workflows for manufacturers managing their invoices for accounts payable where there may be multiple approvals or exception processing, this solution can provide a managed workflow.

“In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environments, lean document solutions can help drive value for businesses and their customers,” said Dennis Amorosano, vice president, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Our dedication to lean document processing demonstrates Canon’s commitment to providing our customers, like Quantum Rehab, with tools to help simplify today’s complex business issues.”