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A gauge is a measuring device. A gauge can be as simple as a piece of string cut to a specific dimension or a cutout of an animated character with an outstretched arm and the caption, “You must be this tall to ride this attraction.” On the other end of Read more…
A line shift is a synchronized movement of all the production work on an assembly line. It can be done in several ways. Manually, in which each person pushes their work to the next station on a signal. On an indexed moving line, in which the line moves and then Read more…
Sensors are mechanical devices that are sensitive to their environment, and that communicate information about what they detect. Sensors can detect pressure, temperature, speed, and a host of other things. Sensors are commonly linked to either an alarm of some sort (a buzzer when a seat belt is not fastened), Read more…
A manufacturing fixture holds parts during the manufacturing process. Fixtures come in a wide range of types. In their simplest form, they may be a series of pins sticking up from a flat surface to keep a part from sliding. They can also be much more complicated, with a series Read more…
To understand problem solving, one must first have a clear definition of what a problem actually is. A problem is simply a gap between an expectation and reality. The most common way people look at this relationship is that they focus on a change in performance, meaning that the reality Read more…
Evidence is the data that supports a theory. It is what separates opinion from fact. Lean relies heavily on problem solving to make improvements. In order to get to the root cause of a problem, people in Lean companies must act like detectives, uncovering evidence to understand processes better. Evidence Read more…
On the job emotions are rarely talked about. But let’s begin with emotion in general. Emotion is something that we are all familiar with. It is the internal reaction we have to things- the shriek when you win the lottery, the gasp at bad news, and the anger when someone Read more…
8D Analysis is a problem-solving methodology. It takes a step by step approach to identify the root cause of a problem and permanently eliminate it. Because there is a cost in terms of time and effort in using a formal methodology such as 8D analysis, it is usually only done Read more…
The scientific method is one of many problem solving techniques. There are 5 basic steps to the scientific method. Observation: Gather facts and data about a situation. Form a hypothesis: In this step of the scientific method, the user makes a statement about what is happening and why. In effect, Read more…
Continuous improvement often requires us to step outside what we believe to be true and look at the world in a new, different way. Children do this on a regular basis. Why is the sky blue? How do birds fly? What would happen if you were driving at the speed Read more…
A Lean implementation is the initial period of time when a company or organization is putting Lean in place. While most people look at it as a discrete event, in truth, there is often a long period where different parts of an organization are rolling out Lean. So, different departments Read more…
Credibility is trustworthiness. Credibility comes from a track record of getting things right. Lean, despite its global success, has to earn its credibility within a company. It is not enough for a leader to talk about the virtues of Lean, or to point to external examples. Employees have to see Read more…