| The correct approach to implementing lean |
Date Posted: 10/31/2007
Author: Carl Wright
Topics: Lean manufacturing
The right approach to implementing lean manufacturing begins with an analysis of the businesses needs, opportunities and challenges. Once these opportunities are identified, focused tools are used to solve the issues. Carl Wright provides a game plan and an explanation on some of these tools.
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| Asset management for new facilities: Design, construction and startup |
Date Posted: 5/6/2008
Author: Jim Davis
Topics:
Perhaps the single most damaging mistake in industry today is the common practice of overlooking asset management concepts during the design, construction and startup of major new facilities. The global cost of this poor management practice is truly astronomical. New facilities experience excessive unplanned downtime, resulting in excessive costs and loss of critical production due to quality and quantity issues. These losses can be avoided by implementing proper business processes and good operational planning prior to facility startup.
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| Recruitment fundamentals: Get more ‘A’ players on board |
Date Posted: 5/6/2008
Author: Lee Froschheiser
Topics:
Putting the wrong person in the wrong position just to fill a job vacancy can have dire consequences to your organization – i.e. poor employee morale, low productivity and lost opportunities. The impact to your company’s bottom line can be staggering. The good news is that companies can drastically improve their workforce quality by adopting a proactive mind-set and consistently using the right hiring procedures.
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| Inexpensive roof vent could prevent wind damage |
Date Posted: 5/6/2008
Author: Newswise
Topics:
Hurricanes often lift the roofs off buildings and expose them to havoc and damaging conditions, even after the worst of the wind has passed. A roofer, Virginia Tech faculty members from architecture and engineering, and a graduate student have devised an inexpensive vent that can reduce roof uplift on buildings during high winds, even a hurricane.
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| Understanding overall equipment effectiveness |
Date Posted: 5/6/2008
Author: Carl Wright
Topics:
Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is becoming a commonly utilized maintenance metric within lean organizations. It normally measures the effectiveness of a machine center or process line. Learn more about OEE by reading this article by industrial engineer and master blackbelt Carl Wright.
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| Do you provide world-class service? |
Date Posted: 5/6/2008
Author: Michael Guld
Topics:
What is world-class service? It is the talk of many but the reality of few. When you provide world-class service, it often becomes a legendary experience that the client retells to others. This article features a six-component test that will determine your level of customer service.
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| Value stream analysis: Mapping the current state |
Date Posted: 4/1/2008
Author: Darren Dolcemascolo
Topics:
A current state value stream map will enable you to see the complete door-to-door flow in your facility and to identify and prioritize areas for improvement. In this must-read article, author Darren Dolcemascolo outlines the components of this lean activity.
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| Just right-size it! |
Date Posted: 4/1/2008
Author: Mike Wroblewski, Batesville Casket Company
Topics:
One of the challenges in kaizen is getting people to see beyond their perceived boundaries to what is possible. One example is using right-sized equipment. Many times, we end up buying the best value of equipment for the money with as many bells and whistles possible, just in case we need them in the future. With this thought process, we end up with larger equipment with unused capabilities than what we actually need. Mike Wroblewski provides the details in this article.
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| Professors use industrial lean methods to re-engineer clinic |
Date Posted: 4/1/2008
Author:
Topics:
What began as an MBA class project at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management ended up with participants applying factory management techniques that hold promise for improving medical clinic productivity and quality. This article shows the real flexibility of Toyota-style lean tools.
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| Lead through listening |
Date Posted: 4/1/2008
Author: David Benzel
Topics:
Listening is an art and a skill. It requires discipline and focused attention. When you give the gift of silence, you allow others the chance to think and process their thoughts.
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