And, tapping his auto parts experience, he introduced the just-in-time inventory-control system and lean manufacturing, which emphasizes reducing wasteful processes in order to make better products and respond quickly to customers.

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Over the last few years I have read a lot of economic and monetary history and assert that ALL periods of rapid economic expansion are driven by two fundamental processes: Reducing the cost of doing work and reducing the cost of information.

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The challenge here is to generate more sales, while reducing expenses and tweaking costly administrative processes.

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Leape did turn up extensive safety literature from cognitive psychology, aviation and nuclear power, gleaning lessons--reducing reliance on memory, standardizing processes, promoting teamwork--that might apply well to medicine.

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Nanotech also allows for "green manufacturing"--manufacturing processes that can take place at ordinary temperatures, reducing energy costs, while the use of non-toxic catalysts minimize pollution and bottom-up construction leaves no wasted material behind.

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The company said it would be focussing on the design and manufacturing processes needed to produce a next generation composite wing, with the emphasis on reducing weight and aerodynamic drag.

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The flip side to this increased focus on reducing carbon dioxide emissions is that, industrially at least, the demand for carbon dioxide as an input into processes is increasing.

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