IoT-enabled dynamic lean control mechanism for typical production systems

The emergence and subsequent popularization of lean has been one of the most significant developments in the history of operations management. However, there is a lack of systematic theory on the control framework underlying lean production. It is therefore difficult to conduct more in-depth research on Lean theory, specifically in the context of emerging technologies as smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0. In this study, process control theory is used to re-define several major lean methods and tools. Then a Lean-Oriented Optimum-State Control Theory (L-OSCT) is proposed that integrates these lean methods and tools into optimum-state control theory. On the level of method and mechanism, we adopt a recently emerged synchronization approach to obtain global-wide leanness of a large-scale system. L-OSCT provides dynamic process control in industrial networking systems. At last, a case study in a large-size paint making company in China is used to validate the effectiveness of the approach.