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Lean Manufacturing Blog » Archive for March 2008

What Is Lean Manufacturing

What Is Lean Manufacturing? Today, in a highly consumerist society where people strive to acquire more possessions, it is ironic that in manufacturing consumer products, lean is in. The concept of zero-waste does not only circulate among ecological zones, it seems. Lean manufacturing is a new buzzword in the industrial world which is rapidly gaining ubiquitous following. Lean manufacturing is a systematic approach to eliminate waste in the production process with the end goal of satisfying customers. Waste … Read entire article »

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What Is The “Sustain” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?

What Is The “Sustain” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S? By Michael Baker In order for Lean Manufacturing to be truly effective, it takes an overall cultural change. It means harvesting a different philosophy and consistent each and every day. The employees are looking for the management at the top to lead by example, so be that leader. It is a position anyone can easily fall into because many people want to be led. You can be that person, … Read entire article »

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Implementing Lean Manufacturing

Implementing Lean Manufacturing Systems Lean manufacturing is a very good and effective concept of managing a company. The philosophy of reducing wastes found in a manufacturing business or any type corporation is a sound idea. The most common wastes that needs attention are: - Overproduction - Waiting time - Transportation - Processing - Inventory - Motion - Scrap When these wastes are minimized, the quality of the products or services is improved, the production time and the cost of manufacturing the goods is reduced. … Read entire article »

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What Is The “Standardization” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?

What Is The “Standardization” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?By Michael Baker Lean Manufacturing 5S is one of the first lean initiatives you can put into place that will cost almost no money. There are already extra things lying around you can put into use to make the areas much cleaner and more organized. If you are at the “standardization” phase of this project, you have already done the sort, set, and shine steps. You area will also … Read entire article »

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Definition Of Lean Manufacturing

Defining Lean Manufacturing Understanding what lean manufacturing is does not take rocket science, nor does it take a conference of ten experts to bear down to the basic concepts. Simply put, lean manufacturing is the achievement of the greatest efficiency and profitability for a company by eliminating the wasteful methods and activities that are commonly present in corporate regimes. At first glance, some firms are intimated with the thought of adopting lean manufacturing because of its fancy … Read entire article »

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What Is The “Shine” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?

What Is The “Shine” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?By Michael Baker OK, if you are on the “shine” section of your 5S implementation, then you have already covered the sort and set steps. You should at this point already have a place designated for all of the correct tools and equipment you need for the work space. You should also have a red tag area where the other equipment you are not using right now, or may … Read entire article »

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Success For Companies Using Lean Manufacturing

Success in the Implementation of Lean Manufacturing Principles in Companies Lean manufacturing is a holistic and innovative approach to making companies’ profits and earnings somehow upbeat and at par with contemporaries around the world. Lean manufacturing, according to experts, was developed and initially implemented and launched in Japan, which is a country foremost known for interactive and inventive approaches to solving and dealing with problems. Experts also note that lean manufacturing principles are very simple and practical. However, … Read entire article »

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What Is Kaizen?

Just a quick video I put together. I wanted to explain what the one thing most managers and companies fail to do when they put together a Kaizen And, when you fail to do this, the Kaizen will fail. It just takes this one extra step, this one small thing, to implement, and you are sure to be successful. Here’s a hint: It is one of the S’s in 5S. [flv:http://www.leanmanufacturingsecrets.com/blog/videos/kaizen.flv 480 333] My video as seen on: YouTube, … Read entire article »

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The Toyota Lean Manufacturing System

The standard lean manufacturing system has been referenced from the Toyota lean manufacturing system in Japan. Even the lean manufacturing system developed in North America has evolved from its beginnings in the Toyota Production System (TPS) in Japan. In fact, many of the recognized phrases being used in the lean manufacturing systems in North America and all over the world are Japanese terms such as kanban, kaizen or andon. These Japanese terms originated from the Toyota … Read entire article »

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What Is The “Set” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?

What Is The “Set” Of Lean Manufacturing 5S? By Michael Baker In Lean Manufacturing 5S, there are certain steps that you must take in order to get your organization more efficient. And more specifically, there are 5 areas in the 5S initiative that will need to be followed for this to happen. The first step is the sort phase, where you decide what stays and what goes. The next step is “set”. But what is the “set” … Read entire article »

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