There is always room for improvement. Even if you think you are being as productive as possible, there are ways to become even more efficient. By stretching resources, thinking in silos, having low aspirations, or having high margins you may be selling yourself short. Try developing a deep process understanding of your equipment. MachineMetrics can give you visibility into your machines so you can make the most informed decisions. Bring people together and test quickly to improve efficiency. Finally, evaluate the end-to-end impact of improvements and you will see the results.
Not long ago we came across a very experienced scientist tasked with fixing an underperforming confectionary line. He was planning an in-depth theoretical study to find a way to solve the problem. That study would take longer than a year to complete. Instead within weeks we got the information we needed. We used a range of simple off-the-shelf sensors which helped us identify and fix the problem quickly. The sweets were soon flying even faster off the production line. This is a great example of where companies can go wrong when they want to improve performance. But perhaps a bigger mistake is to decide things can’t get any better. When you think you’ve squeezed everything you can out of your manufacturing plant, I bet you can get more. Even after you’ve used traditional tools like lean manufacturing and Six Sigma, there could be untapped opportunities for improving productivity. Those opportunities could deliver tangible benefits within a short time and for a low capital investment. The current wave of consolidation in the consumer goods sector means those opportunities should be in high demand – to ease post-merger integration or ward off a takeover. Read More
Lean manufacturing can make your business more efficient, but it can also help you retain employees. With large amounts of job openings in the manufacturing field, some companies are finding that thei...
The eight wastes of lean manufacturing can be beneficial when applied to warehouse settings. Bastian Solutions posted examples of each one! Their examples of transportation waste are, "Having fast-mov...
Implementing lean manufacturing techniques can help you unlock your business's potential and take it to the next level. Becoming more efficient saves time and money as Toyota learned years ago. There ...
If you're hoping to improve your lean manufacturing strategies, look no further than these great articles from last year! This collection of IndustryWeek's favorite lean stories from 2018 includes eve...
Want to create a successful lean manufacturing initiative? Learn from others' mistakes. Business News said, "An effective strategy is to start with desired outcomes, normally your current pain points,...
What's the best way to learn about something? Pick up a book! Whether you're already well-versed in lean manufacturing or just starting out, there is always something new to learn. Tulip put together ...
Clear communication can make all the difference when implementing new practices at work like lean manufacturing. There are a few strategies you can use to make this transition easier all around. Marks...
Advanced analytics are an amazing way that you can get leaner in real time. They can reduce waste by helping you become more efficient. They can also increase your responsiveness, reliability, complia...