Lilly Software Associates VISUAL Enterprise, VISUAL DBR (Drumm Buffer Rope), AND VISUAL Easy Lean are highlighted as vendors, users, and analysts discuss Lean manufacturing, which, when it works correctly, unites the flow of material and information. In the replenishment-pull process, each lean work cell produces only to replace what is used up by the previous operation, and manual signals called kanban cards trigger material flow. However, the definition of lean is uncertain, and manual information flow can become unsynchronized with enterprise data. Some in the industry believe that it is sensible to use software that deploys lean online, but other say not all companies need packaged software for lean. In time, lean users bring in new modules or bolt-ons, and they have to determine the type of software needed to bring lean online. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors are emphasizing lean, especially manufacturing-centered vendors. Under the broad view of lean as a term that means less waste, ERP can reduce waste, but the requirements become narrower when the Toyota Production System is discussed. With that system, the kanban is used to regulate production and material flow, rather than using traditional production control mechanisms such as work orders. A spokesperson for PeopleSoft says manufacturers are taking a heterogeneous approach with ERP by mixing in techniques such as bottleneck management, but PeopleSoft has acquired a set of pure lean software tools from JCIT, under which an enterprise suite is still desirable for such functions as order and final transactions, long-term demand planning, and supplier management. Supplier portals will assist manufacturers in collaboration.