Process improvement initiatives can vary greatly from company to company; however, many organizations share a common problem: the challenge of managing process variations. This is particularly true among adhesives and sealants manufacturers, where multiple locations within the country and, increasingly, abroad are forcing companies to accommodate a host of local rules and regulations that demand customization. Companies that are able to introduce standardized processes across multiple markets and locations can realize major efficiencies, economies of scale, and cost savings, making them even more competitive in an increasingly contentious marketplace.
The demands of localization and customization mean there will often be exceptions to the rule. This translates into the need to adapt processes for different product lines, regulations or other regional nuances. Managing these process variations can prove to be unnecessarily complex and costly for the manufacturer. It’s the reason analyst Steve Stanton says, “Ninety percent of the organizations I know have failed at standardization.”