Lean Manufacturing

Design Thinking: Empathy and Iteration for Innovation and Problem-Solving

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Innovation and problem-solving are crucial in today’s rapidly evolving world. Design thinking offers a human-centered approach to tackling complex challenges and driving creative solutions. This article delves into design thinking principles, focusing on empathy and iteration, and highlights how this approach can foster innovation and effective problem-solving. Understanding Design Thinking: Design thinking is a problem-solving…

Harnessing the Power of Technology for Process Optimization

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In the modern era, technology has become an indispensable tool for organizations seeking to optimize their processes, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive edge. This article explores the transformative power of technology in process optimization and how it can revolutionize workflows across different industries. Automation for Streamlined Workflows: Automation plays a crucial role in process…

Value Stream Mapping: Streamlining Processes in Lean Manufacturing

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Value stream mapping is a powerful tool within lean manufacturing that enables organizations to analyze, visualize, and optimize their processes from end to end. By mapping the flow of materials, information, and activities, organizations can identify waste areas, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies and implement targeted improvements to streamline operations. In this article, we will delve into…

Understanding Kaizen: A Path to Continuous Improvement

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In today’s competitive business landscape, organizations constantly seek ways to improve their processes, enhance productivity, and deliver exceptional quality. One approach that has gained significant recognition and success in achieving these goals is Kaizen. Rooted in Japanese philosophy and management practices, Kaizen has become a powerful tool for organizations worldwide to foster a culture of…

5S Factory Reset: Step by Step

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5S sweep

In some situations, the factory tends to become unproductive, lacks efficiency and unorganized. This is a time for factory reset where there is a need to start afresh. The workplace may not need drastic changes; however, it is time to implement principal changes that will make a difference and restore productivity within the workplace adapting…

Simplifying Asset Management with Labels

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asset tagging

It is important when managing assets, especially when they are customer owned, to be able to clearly identify and report condition of tooling and equipment.  In the case of customer-owned tooling, there are often agreements that the business is responsible to maintain their equipment, but in order to do so, a meticulous process of budgeting…

The History of Kanban

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history of kanban

The world-renowned carmaker Toyota began studying supermarkets in the 1940s. Supermarkets have a unique in-store system that uses in-store stocking techniques. Their system always provides for adequate amounts of products on the shelves without having to store excess amounts because customers know they can always return to the store for more. Toyota believed that this…

The Concepts of Kaizen

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Kaizen concepts

Kaizen is a philosophy, a methodology, and a way of mind. There are a number of tools and conceptskaizen utilizes to inspire the continuous mindset. Below are a few of our favorite. Management: In kaizen, management has two functions: maintenance and improvement. Setting standards and keeping them is an important part of kaizen. One of…

Lean Six Sigma Can Improve Environmental Performance

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Chart

The term Lean Six Sigma, actually a combination of Lean and Six Sigma, is a methodology first implemented in the manufacturing sector that aims to continuously improve the workplace. These terms are fairly complex, but in a nutshell, Lean is concerned with reducing waste in the workplace by identifying anything that isn’t adding value to…

Why Workers Resist Lean Culture

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Karen Wilhelm – Lean Reflections Details. Karen discusses a study on human behavior by a group of anthropologists led by Dr. Margaret Mead, and how the years-ago study can be applied to Lean methodology in the workplace. Karen also details the transition to Lean by an old industrial business in Detroit, DTE…