BD CEO says 'lean manufacturing'—Toyota's famous philosophy—is prerequisite for leveraging AI

Group 1: Lean Manufacturing and AI Integration - BD, also known as Becton, Dickinson and Company, emphasizes the importance of lean manufacturing, with CEO Tom Polen advocating for its integration with AI to enhance operational efficiency [2][3] - Polen launched BD Excellence in 2024, scaling lean practices from 50 kaizen projects to 1,500 in the previous year, indicating a significant commitment to continuous improvement [2][3] - The company recently spun off its $10.4 billion bioscience and diagnostic solutions units to focus on its $11.5 billion medical technology business, showcasing a strategic shift towards core competencies [3] Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Trends - BD's stock has increased by 16% this year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline, reflecting positive market sentiment despite challenges such as pricing pressure in China [3] - Figma reported a 40% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue, demonstrating resilience in the software sector amid broader market challenges [5] - Job-hopping employees experienced a decrease in year-over-year pay growth from 6.6% to 6.4%, while those who remained in their positions saw a pay growth of 4.5%, indicating a narrowing gap in compensation trends [4]