MANUFACTURING STRATEGIES Real-time information is the front-line defense for sustainable growth and profitability. Complex discrete manufacturers find real-time information critical to manage shrinking product lifecycles, increasing product mix and margin erosion. This is especially true for capital and material-intensive industries or highly regulated industries such as life sciences, high-tech electronics, semiconductors, automotive, and aerospace and defense. The importance of having real-time information available for analysis increases as the pace of change accelerates. Global manufacturers have made significant investments in key strategic initiatives to drive out inefficiencies and improve bottom line performance. Yet in spite of all this investment manufacturers are still asking the age-old question – what should I make? Applied Materials software allows manufacturers to create a more flexible and responsive enterprise capable of quickly adapting to changes in market conditions and ultimately achieving a better utilization of assets, greater competitive advantage and increased profitability. Applied Materials'manufacturing applications are an integral component of key strategic enterprise initiatives such as: Lean Manufacturing – empowers manufacturers to achieve continuous improvement through the elimination of waste – on the shop floor or throughout the enterprise. Supply Chain Execution – integrates business and supply chain systems with manufacturing applications to improve responsiveness and quality. Enterprise Performance Management – compares manufacturing performance and quality across equipment, lines, plants, and partners. Closed Loop Automation – senses critical shop floor events, decides the best appropriate action and then responds with the corrective action to resolve the problem.
  
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