Lean Concepts and Tools

developed in manufacturing

benefits

  • reduced cost
  • reduced lead and cycle times
  • improved communication between customer and organization
  • reduced work space needs
  • process flexibility facilitated

five laws of lean

  1. law of the market

* customer is highest priority * focus every process toward customer satisfaction 2. law of flexibility * speed at which process can run related to adaptability of process 3. law of focus * Pareto principle 4. law of velocity * velocity of process inversely proportional to work in progress (WIP) * greater WIP means greater lead time 5. law of complexity * complexity creates more waste than slow processes or poor quality

created by Toyota based on production concepts of Henry Ford

key concepts of lean

  • value : rating of how well product meets customer needs
  • value stream : processes that produce valueable products
  • pull : demand production rather than production based on forecasts
  • perfection : aim for constant improvement
waste steps
activities that don't add value

steps to applying lean

  • identify what creates value, according to customer
  • identify value stream
  • shift to pull production
  • review and optimize processes

lean tools

five S's

  • sort : remove unneeded items
  • straighten : arrange and organize necessary items
  • shine : cleanliness and repair
  • standardize : maintaining environment by regular maintenance
  • sustain : making steps standard process

benefits

  • greater efficiency
  • reduced defects
  • greater safety

JIT ( Just in Time)

  • materials should be devlired just when needed
  • reduced inventory

Kanban (signal)

  • inventory control system that indicates when material is needed
  • advantages -- reduced setup and manufacturing time -- improved quality and inventory control
  • disadvantages -- no inventory buffer

value stream mapping

  • charting steps in the value stream

Kaizen(continual improvement)

  • process improvement through incremental steps
  • "Kaizen blitz/event" - intense focused improvement process, lasts about a week

mistake proofing(poka yoka)

  • created by Shigeo Shinjo as part of Zero Quality Control (ZQC)
  • devices which prevent errors like the french fry packers at McDonald's