Employee Involvement: It can Make or Break LEAN
Those familiar with lean may know that the key objective with lean is to eliminate all types of waste. Waste can be just about anything, and there are many different types of wastes in the work environment. When thinking about waste, it is important to remember that waste in the workplace has absolutely no value.…
Tony Ferraro | August 30, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Facility Efficiency, Lean Manufacturing
Lean Eliminates Waste, Not People
When the concept of lean is implemented within a work facility there may be a variety of different responses. For instance, some people may be excited and respond by saying “we should have started lean even sooner, what a great concept.” However, there are also people at the opposite end of spectrum who simply cringe…
Tony Ferraro | August 29, 2013 | Lean | Facility Efficiency, Lean Manufacturing
What is Poka Yoke?
When you hear the term “Poka Yoke” you may be thinking “Poka what?” While the practices known as Poka Yoke may be more prevalent in Japan, Poka Yoke is also gaining in popularity in the U.S. The term known as Poka Yoke was coined back in the 1960’s in Japan by a man known as…
Tony Ferraro | August 27, 2013 | Lean | Lean Manufacturing, Poka Yoke
When Common Sense and Standardization Conflict
Every workplace has rules. Rules are often put into place to help standardize practices, keep employees safe, and to simply help keep order within the general workplace. However, what happens when standardized rules just don’t seem to align with common sense answers? Even though rules and standards are put into place for a reason, they…
Tony Ferraro | August 21, 2013 | Lean | Forklift Safety
Quality Counts!
Products ship in and out of businesses each and every day; it is just simply a natural part of conducting business. However, how much thought is really put into ensuring that packages reach their destinations still in pristine condition? When so much thought is put into designing and creating a product, why would we spend…
Tony Ferraro | August 20, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement
Packaging Waste: Large Box Use Out of Hand?
The smell of fall is beginning to radiate throughout the air. After a fun-filled summer of outdoor amusement, summer is just starting to wind down. This is also the time of year when teachers begin preparing their classrooms for a whole new group of students. I know this time of year well as my wife…
Tony Ferraro | August 19, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement
Overproduction is Overrated
There’s just something about having a neatly organized, fully stocked inventory that still appeals to some business owners. It may be because they have a fear of running out of products, or it may be due to the belief that since they have the space (warehouse) that they must fill it up with products. Whatever…
Tony Ferraro | August 16, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Overproduction
TIMWOOD at Work!
Take a look around your business; are the processes and procedures running as efficiently as possible? Are deliveries being made in a timely manner? Are all workstations organized and ready for production? If you find your business floundering in any of these areas, the elimination of TIMWOOD may help. TIMWOOD is a helpful acronym to…
Tony Ferraro | July 31, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, TIMWOOD
Let’s Talk Jidoka and Juice Boxes
Don’t you just hate when you make a purchase only to find that some of the items purchased are defective or missing something? Last week, I purchased a large pack of juice boxes for a family picnic and when we opened them up we found that over half of them were missing straws. Missing the…
Tony Ferraro | July 30, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Jidoka
Going Lean: Five Common Misunderstandings
The practice of implementing lean is becoming increasingly popular and it looks like lean might be here to stay. However, it is important to remember that lean isn’t just a quick fix or “extra” program. Instead, implementing a true lean mindset takes time. When lean is done correctly, it will help your business to grow…
Tony Ferraro | July 29, 2013 | Lean | 5S, Continuous Improvement, Healthcare, Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma
NASA Embraces Technology through Continuous Improvement
NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been known for its great accomplishments in technology and space travel. However, recently NASA has pushed the envelope of continuous improvement just a little further by using additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) to design and create a rocket jet injector. Rocket jet injectors are…
Tony Ferraro | July 17, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean
Can Data Collection Streamline Operations?
Data, data, data… The word data can be a scary word if you don’t really know what it means or how to use it. First off, when it comes to data, do you use ALL your data, or just bits and pieces? Or, gulp; maybe you don’t use any data at all? The simple truth…
Tony Ferraro | July 12, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean
Made in the USA – Reshoring with the Help of Lean
Many items these days are manufactured overseas. Take a walk around your house, pick up some items like a decoration or a random article of clothing and see where each was made, were they made in USA? The sad truth is that they probably were not. One of the most common markings to see is…
Tony Ferraro | July 10, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing
Continuous Improvement: Mail Delivery of the Future?
Continuous improvement is everywhere and we see the effects in all areas of life. For instance, we see it in how cell phones have evolved from the simple flip phone to the everything-in-one smart phone, and from the large 50 pound computer monitors to the now sleek flat screen monitors that are nearly as light…
Tony Ferraro | June 25, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean
The Importance of Lean in the Office
People who read about or study the lean techniques will find that most of what they read is about how to apply these standards to a manufacturing facility. This is where the concept really got its roots, and also where it is most commonly implemented. It is important to realize, however, that in addition to…
Mike Wilson | April 10, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean
