Every second counts in manufacturing. Between supply chain disruptions, rising material costs, and a shrinking skilled workforce, manufacturers are under constant pressure to improve efficiency while controlling costs. Lean manufacturing principles like Kaizen, waste reduction, and continuous improvement have long guided the industry, but one hidden inefficiency that often goes unnoticed is printing.
From the plant floor to the front office, unmanaged print environments can drain time, waste resources, and create unnecessary downtime. By implementing Managed Print Services (MPS), manufacturers can align printing with lean operations to improve workflow efficiency, reduce downtime, and eliminate waste.
The role of printing in lean manufacturing
Printing may not seem central to lean initiatives, but every work order, manifest, and bill of lading depends on reliable, efficient printing. When printers fail, documents don’t reach production teams on time, and delays ripple across the plant.
MPS supports lean manufacturing by:
- Improving workflow efficiency through standardized, optimized devices.
- Reducing downtime with proactive maintenance and monitoring.
- Enhancing compliance with secure print release and tracking.
- Streamlining document workflow in production by digitizing and automating repetitive processes.
By integrating printing into a lean strategy, manufacturers strengthen their ability to deliver accuracy, speed, and continuous improvement.
How Managed Print Services reduce waste in manufacturing
Lean operations are built around eliminating waste - whether it’s excess motion, time spent waiting, or defective output. Printing is no exception. MPS helps manufacturers eliminate waste in several ways:
- Preventing abandoned print jobs with secure release features.
- Reducing unnecessary printing through usage tracking and analytics.
- Replacing underperforming or redundant devices with efficient models.
- Automating toner replacement to prevent costly interruptions.
The result is not only less paper and supply waste, but also reduced labor waste, as staff no longer need to troubleshoot printers or manage supplies manually.
What are the cost savings of MPS for manufacturers?
Cost savings with MPS go far beyond ink and toner. By consolidating print services, manufacturers gain predictable costs and free up staff to focus on higher-value work. Common savings include:
- Eliminating redundant devices across multiple facilities.
- Avoiding unplanned downtime that halts production-critical documents.
- Reducing IT burden, as MPS providers handle monitoring, security updates, and service calls.
- Optimizing workflows to cut down on errors and reprints.
When viewed through the lens of lean manufacturing, MPS is not just a cost control measure, but a strategic investment in operational efficiency.
Successfully implementing MPS in manufacturing
A Kaizen approach to the implementation of MPS follows a five-step cycle for continuous improvement. This method ensures that print environments are consistently optimized, helping manufacturers reduce waste, boost efficiency, and sustain long-term operational excellence.
FAQs: Managed Print Services and lean manufacturing
How EO Johnson can help
Ready to transform your manufacturing operations? At EO Johnson, we understand that even brief downtime can be costly. That’s why our Managed Print Services are designed to align printing with lean manufacturing principles—minimizing waste, eliminating redundant devices, and streamlining document workflows. Our MPS programs empower your team to focus on continuous improvement and innovation, while we handle print efficiency, security, and digital transformation with document scanning and automation solutions.
