Mike WilsonAccording to the ASQ, lean is defined as “a set of management practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness by eliminating waste. The core principle of lean is to reduce and eliminate non-value-adding activities and waste.” When implemented effectively, the benefits of creating a lean workplace are vast and can enhance business productivity going forward. Adopting…
Keeping a Lean and efficient workplace is often dependent on the facility’s organization system. The 5S/6S methodology uses visual tools to keep everything running smoothly. With the intuitive LabelSuite™ software, you can create custom 5S/6S labels in just a few minutes. Get the perfect label every time for any spot in the workplace! Whether you’re labeling…
Lean manufacturing and just-in-time production both have their roots in the revolutionary Toyota Production System. The Toyota Production was developed between 1948 and 1975 and is now a common management philosophy that is practiced in some of the biggest companies in the world. TPS aims to have a facility that is operating efficiently, is not…
Do you know the wastes of Lean? The original 7 Wastes of Lean are recognized by the Toyota Production System as the most common wastes manufacturers face. An eighth waste has been added however, and the philosophy is now referred to as the 8 Wastes of Lean. The different tools and strategies that Lean encompasses…
5S is a popular strategy used in Lean workplaces as a means to make the facility easier to navigate, find what they need, and keep things organized. Both 5s and Lean rely on the use of visual cues for success. Using floor markings, signs, labels, and a color coding system will help to quickly communicate…
Having a Lean facility means to have a facility promoting efficiency and the reduction of waste. Work cells are organized in a logical manner and easy to navigate while equipment and tools have their own spaces that are out of the way. A Lean facility will often use visual communication, and you can tell workers…
Changing processes can seem a little scary, but the PDCA makes it simple. The PDCA cycle promotes efficiency in the workplace and provides a framework for implementing changes or solving problems through the following four steps: Plan > Do > Check > Act. The origins of this cycle come from a Lean pioneer Dr. W.…
Value stream mapping is a Lean activity focused on identifying areas of improvement in processes. A value stream map is a hand-drawn diagram of a workplace that shows the flow of materials moving through different areas. The map should have more information on it including how long tasks take and how often orders for materials…
Cleaning up and organizing a cluttered workbench or tool chest can have a bigger impact than you may think. By having a system for keeping tools organized, workers spend less time searching for tools and you can spend less money on replacing tools thought to be lost. A cost-effective and simple options is to use…
A popular tool used in Lean businesses is a tool called Kanban, a Japanese word meaning sign. It is used in the just-in-time system of production as a means of regulation. In terms of manufacturing, a Kanban system usually uses a bin and card system that triggers a certain action. For instance, the production…