// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Mura
A Japanese term in Lean manufacturing referring to unevenness or irregularity in an operation, often caused by fluctuating production schedules or inconsistent work methods.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Mura, a key Lean concept, describes unevenness or irregularity in production processes, workload, or demand, leading to bottlenecks, idle time, and stress on resources, often addressed through Heijunka (production leveling) to achieve smoother flow.
BACKGROUND
The Toyota Production System (TPS) is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS is a management system that organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile manufacturer, including interaction with suppliers and customers. The system is a major precursor of the more generic "lean manufacturing". Taiichi Ohno and Eiji Toyoda, Japanese industrial engineers, developed the system between 1948 and 1975.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Unevenness
- irregularity
- inconsistency
- fluctuation
- variability
USAGE NOTE
Mura can lead to Muri (overburden) and Muda (waste), making its reduction crucial for stable operations.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Mura.
Develops the Digital Enterprise Suite, including the MindSphere IoT platform and Opcenter MES, which digitalize and automate manufacturing processes to create stable, predictable production flows and eliminate unevenness.
Offers the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with DELMIA applications for virtual twin simulations and advanced planning and scheduling (APS), allowing manufacturers to model, optimize, and balance production lines to prevent irregularities.
Provides the SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud and S/4HANA Manufacturing solutions, which integrate enterprise-level planning with shop-floor execution to synchronize operations and level workloads, directly counteracting production unevenness (Mura).
Delivers industrial automation and information solutions, including the FactoryTalk software suite and MES platforms, that provide real-time control and visibility to standardize workflows and maintain a consistent production pace.
Specializes in industrial software, including its Proficy suite for Manufacturing Data Management and Analytics. The technology enables real-time monitoring of operations to identify and correct process variability and inconsistency.
Develops the Lumada platform, an IoT and data analytics solution used in manufacturing to optimize production schedules, predict maintenance needs, and analyze process data to identify and eliminate sources of inconsistency.
A Rockwell Automation company that provides a cloud-based Smart Manufacturing Platform. Its MES and ERP capabilities give manufacturers real-time data to smooth production scheduling, manage inventory, and eliminate the bottlenecks that cause Mura.
Offers the ThingWorx Industrial IoT platform, which connects disparate factory systems and analyzes operational data. This enables manufacturers to gain insights into process variations, optimize asset utilization, and stabilize production flow.