Abstract
Saudi Arabia is the third largest date producer in the world. Date production has been on the rise for several years and has reached around one million metric tons annually. The opportunity identified in this research project is that the seeds are not removed prior to sale and therefore consumers discard massive amounts of seeds each year.
The project developed by the experiential learning set, was the use of state of the art simulation software to simulate the introduction of an innovative process in the date processing industry. Within the review of the literature, this article attempts to identify and illustrate the importance of innovation in manufactories and the application of lean manufacturing concepts in eliminating waste and cutting costs, as well as maximizing the use of available resources for purposes of producing maximum output. Through the realization that with increased competition, dynamisms, and turbulences in the global business environment companies have identified the inappropriateness of the traditional or classical management model, hence the need for managerial models that enhance cost reduction without compromising quality.