Standardized Work May 1, 2008 Taiichi Ohno is often quoted as declaring: “Without a standard, there can be no improvement.” The principles of lean do not work well when everyone is allowed to choose their own work method or work sequence in which to do a job: the outcome is unpredictable; flow and pull are impossible. This reduces throughput and the carefully crafted process develops unanticipated outcomes.
Lean Efforts Capture the Shingo November 1, 2007 A subsidiary of HNI Corp. (Mustacine, IA), the second-largest manufacturer of office furniture in North America, Hearth & Home Technologies (HHT; Mt. Pleasant, IA) manufactures sheetmetal fireplaces (both wood and gas-burning), vent pipe, and fireplace accessories. The company has four manufacturing facilities.
Automation in Lean Manufacturing July 1, 2007 Common misperceptions about lean manufacturing and automation systems lead many manufacturing managers to dismiss the use of automation in a lean setting.
Lean at NUMMI September 1, 2005 To remain competitive in the fiercely contested North American automotive industry, the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI, Fremont, CA) assembly plant, a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp. (Aichi Prefecture, Japan) and General Motors Corp. (Detroit), has rededicated its efforts in lean manufacturing during the past few years by applying key tenets of the Toyota Production System (TPS).
Tackling Downtime and Inefficiencies with Software November 20, 2019 Turning to software over paper reports does more than just save trees. Chris Mahar, Associate Editor of Manufacturing Engineering, talks with David McPhail, President and CEO of Memex Inc., about how manufacturers can utilize technology to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and boost productivity and profits across their business.
Improving Warehouse Safety Culture and Safety Training with Loss Trend Analysis March 19, 2024 Warehouses must take a proactive, strategic approach to create a safe working environment.
Shelton Machinery Launches TSM Group March 11, 2024 The long-time Mazak distributor will supply manufacturing equipment as TSM Group
Survey: Supply Chain Shortages Remain a Big Concern March 6, 2024 After supply chain shortages, executives point to public health crises and cyberattacks among leading concerns.
WiM, WiMEF Announce Board of Directors March 5, 2024 Women in Manufacturing (WiM) is adding 20 members to its board while WiM Education Foundation adds 21.
Addionics Announces $400 Million Investment in U.S. EV Battery Manufacturing February 27, 2024 A site has yet to be chosen for Addionics’ first plant, which is expected to begin production in 2027.
