Producing Too Much Creates Waste!
More! Sooner! Faster! When these expectations begin to drive processes, companies are likely to slip into overproduction. As a result, they end up with more product than needed. Accumulating inventory before it is needed is an unwise use of resources. It ties up cash that could be used more effectively. It also causes other wastes such as extra transportation and motion. Additional...
Read MoreDon’t Get Hung-Up In The Waiting Game
Waiting is a big part of our normal daily lives and something we typically take for granted. We wait for our first cup of coffee in the morning; we wait at traffic lights on our way to work; we wait for people to show up for a meeting to start; we wait in doctor’s offices; we wait for the end of the day so we can leave work; we wait in checkout lines at the grocery store; and some of us...
Read MoreIs Too Much Motion Tiring You Out?
Masaaki Imai in his book, Gemba Kaizen, A Commonsense, Low-Cost Approach to Management, states that any motion of a person’s body not directly related to adding value is unproductive. Some examples of motion waste include: Searching for jigs, fixtures, tools, files, etc. Bending to lift heavy loads Turning to retrieve or dispose of products Reaching for components and...
Read MoreToo Much Inventory Will Destroy Your Operation!
Inventory is a waste that plagues every organization and usually hides a multitude of sins. In fact, inventory has been called the root of all evil. Excessive inventory occurs when material is pushed through a process rather than being pulled by customer demand. Excessive inventory occurs in all organizations in the form of raw material, supplies, spare parts, work-in-process (WIP), finished...
Read MoreTransportation Waste Can Create A Huge Burden For Organizations
Transportation is a common source of waste in many companies and includes the excessive and unnecessary movement of materials, products, information and paperwork and often exists where there is disorganization or a lack of clear procedures. Some specific factors that can trigger you to look for transportation waste are: Multiple operational locations where companies split operations among...
Read MoreHow Variation In Work Environment Can Affect Productivity and Create Problems
We seldom think of our environment as being a detriment to our job. But work environment can have a larger affect on your productivity and can create problems that lead to errors, defects, and costly rework. Mother nature and environment can have a dramatic effect on the products we produce and the services we provide. Some of the obvious factors include humidity, excessive heat, cleanliness,...
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