Finding the Root Cause With the Five Whys
The “Five Why’s” is a technique that is often used within the Six Sigma methodology to help learn more about a situation and gain valuable information about what is going on. While the strategy is called the Five Why’s, it doesn’t actually have to be exactly five. In some situations, fewer are needed and in…
Tony Ferraro | May 12, 2016 | Lean | Five whys | 5 min read
Heijunka Box
The Japanese term Heijunka means ‘leveling’ and is commonly used in manufacturing facilities to describe the process of leveling out the type and/or quantity of production over a set amount of time. The idea is to help an organize reduce waste in production while still meeting the demand of customers. As with many other efficiency…
Tony Ferraro | April 15, 2016 | Lean | Heijunka Box | 4 min read
Genchi Genbutsu
The term Genchi Genbutsu is Japanese in origin and came from the Toyota Production System, which is where methodologies like Lean manufacturing originated. Loosely translated the term means, “go and see.” When used in a workplace, it is usually said to imply that when there is a problem in the facility, the best thing you…
Tony Ferraro | April 8, 2016 | Lean | Genchi Genbutsu | 4 min read
The Six Big Losses
Eliminate Losses When looking for ways to improve the profitability of a manufacturing facility it is important to look at the things you have the most control over. While it would be nice if you could just double the number of orders you have to fill, that is typically not going to be possible. What…
Tony Ferraro | December 20, 2015 | Lean | Lean | 5 min read
Lean Manufacturing: Commonly Asked Questions
Lean Manufacturing Questions Answered Implementing a Lean manufacturing strategy in your facility can be a great way to eliminate waste and improve overall efficiency. While the general concept of this methodology is not overly complicated, there is a lot that people need to know. The following are some of the more frequently asked questions regarding…
Tony Ferraro | November 25, 2015 | Lean | Lean Manufacturing | 5 min read
PDCA Cycle Tips
Useful Tips to Help Implement PDCA One of the most effective ways to implement changes in a facility is by using the PDCA cycle. PDCA, which stands for Plan Do Check Act is a system that has been used for years by many different types of industries. It is simple enough to use that it…
Tony Ferraro | November 17, 2015 | Lean | PDCA | 5 min read
How to Establish the Lean Supply Chain
Understanding the Basics of Lean Supply Chain Many companies and individual facilities have implemented LEAN techniques into their daily processes, and have gotten great results. When looking for ways to take that success to the next level, consider establishing a lean supply chain to further eliminate waste and improve efficiency within virtually any company. A Lean…
Tony Ferraro | October 22, 2015 | Lean | Lean, Supply Chain | 5 min read
Understanding Key Lean Manufacturing Concepts
Lean Manufacturing Concepts to Implement Implementing the lean methodologies in your facility is an important decision. Whether you’re getting to ready a lean initiative or you are just weighing the benefits of the strategies it is a good idea to make sure you understand all of the lean manufacturing concepts. The fact that lean has…
Tony Ferraro | August 28, 2015 | Lean | Lean Manufacturing | 5 min read
Seven Simple & Effective Manufacturing Safety Tips
Manufacturing facilities are an essential part of the global economy, but they are also one of the more dangerous places of employment. While there have been significant manufacturing safety improvements over the past several decades, many facilities still have a long way to go. Unfortunately, many facilities believe that it would be too costly or…
Tony Ferraro | July 10, 2015 | Lean, Safety Solutions | Lean | 6 min read
