It can be extremely frustrating to be asked to participate in continuous improvement efforts, only to feel like your calls for help fall on deaf ears. Frequently, though, solid data and real world examples act like amplifiers to make the problem you are addressing stand out.
The difference between complaining and airing problems is whether or not there is a willingness to help solve the problem. That support can come in the form of offering solutions, presenting facts and data, or volunteering for a project team. How an issue is aired goes a long way to Read more…
A job shop is a flexible production operation that builds to order. They specialize in (but are not limited to) low volume, high-mix work. They often do custom production rather than manufacture standard parts. A job is a discrete unit of work—same product, same setup—of a specified quantity. A job Read more…
Takt time is the required pace of production to meet customer demand. It is calculated by dividing the working time available, generally for that shift, by the customer demand during that time period. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is one of the most misunderstood terms in continuous improvement. It is Read more…
CLOSED MITT is an acronym used to categorize waste. It expands on the traditional 7 Wastes that are frequently used in Lean efforts. The origin of CLOSED MITT is unknown, but it has grown in use over the years. Since its early days, it has come into fairly common mention Read more…
There are many things that affect job satisfaction, but a handful carry more weight than others. Trust in one’s boss and good relationships with coworkers are both important factors. The ability to have a say in how the job is done is another significant influencer of job satisfaction. When a Read more…
Kaizen kits are packages of tools and supplies that support continuous improvement activities. The purpose of the kit is to streamline the kaizen process by having necessary tools and supplies gathered in advance. The kit has another benefit. It can inspire creativity. When you put materials in front of people, Read more…
Success comes in many different forms. However you define it, though, the formula remains the same. It starts with potential. Think of potential like the energy stored in something. A wound up spring and a gallon of gas both hold potential energy. A person is the same. Everyone has potential Read more…
A hidden factory is the set of undocumented and unstaffed processes that are done in an organization. When you dive into a process, you will often find two methods of doing it. The first is the documented method, or the one described by the operator as what he or she Read more…
“Form, fit, and function” are most commonly discussed in relation to the design of an object, or when considering if a process is value added or not. Form: Form is the physical characteristics of the product. It includes things like shape, weight, color, material, etc. Fit: Fit is short for Read more…
“Catalog engineer” is a derisive term used to describe someone with a lack of creativity when it comes to process improvement. The term describes those who immediately attempt to purchase an existing solution to a problem rather than try to figure out a method in-house. Process improvement will, of course, Read more…
Every morning, as I clean out the assortment of spam, scams, and general junk mail from my inbox, it strikes me that the senders seem to have a fairly strong understanding of Lean principles. Don’t mistake that comment for me saying that I approve in any way of what they Read more…