The media consistently details stories regarding theft of information, trade secrets and innovation involving many different types of companies and industries.

Many manufacturing companies and executives are looking for ways to differentiate their processes, products and services while competing to win customers and market share.

The concept of lean manufacturing has continued to gain use and visibility on a number of fronts. As highlighted by Rick Spence, president of Canadian Entrepreneur Communications, in a recent article about a lean conference in Toronto, “Lean is often heralded as manufacturers’ best hope for cutting cost and regaining their innovative edge.”

Continuous improvement is at the top of the to-do list for manufacturers in process and discrete manufacturing companies. Industries continually look for ways to improve quality, increase output, meet customer demand, and provide innovations to set their products and processes apart from the competition.

Process industry operations can benefit from implementing a total productive maintenance philosophy.