Lean
How is Gemba Lean?
Gemba walks are a Lean management tool that fits in with many other Lean manufacturing concepts. The focus of a Lean manufacturing system in general is on identifying waste in work processes and eliminating it. That way only things that add value for the customer are performed or included. While a gemba walk can focus on…
CSS Editorial Staff | June 4, 2019 | Gemba, Lean | 5S, Facility Efficiency, Facility Marking, Gemba, Kaizen, Lean, Lean Manufacturing
8 Ways Project Management Tools Can Streamline Productivity
Navigating the rough waters of any manufacturing process is a complicated and difficult undertaking. Managing risks, costs, time-to-market, the communication across departments, and the other aspects of your manufacturing project can make staying organized difficult and slow you down. But you don’t have to go into a project hoping and praying for the best. Thankfully,…
CSS Editorial Staff | September 29, 2017 | Lean | Agile, Lean, Project Management
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
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 | 5S, Lean, Lean Manufacturing, OSHA, Regulations & Compliance, Safety, Safety Signs, Six Sigma
Lean vs Automation
Lean and Automation Working Together As production has advanced over the years, the techniques and technology we have at our fingertips to improve the speed and efficiency of the things we do have increased tenfold. On the one hand, a new and deeper understanding of lead times and how various elements of production affect each…
Tony Ferraro | January 2, 2015 | Lean | Lean, Robots, Six Sigma
Lean is Green
Lean manufacturing principles have solidified themselves as a successful method of improvement in organizations across the globe. Increasing productivity through waste elimination methods continues to be the golden ticket for many industries, but a separate by-product of Lean is in need of some attention –Green. Organizations everywhere are starting to notice their Lean principles produce…
CSS Editorial Staff | December 24, 2014 | Lean | 3P, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Lean
Lean Efforts – To What Extent Should We Quantify?
Should We Quantify All KAIZEN/Lean Efforts from the Shop Floor? Ben Huang, a professional in the midst of implementing Lean techniques into his workplace, has a dilemma. As he related on a LinkedIn group this past week, Lean is apparently going well in his business, but he’s unsure of the extent to which he should…
Tony Ferraro | December 1, 2014 | Lean | Gemba, Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma
Obeya – Introducing the Lean War Room
You Must Obeya Welcome to today’s dose of Lean, on the agenda is Obeya. If you haven’t heard of Obeya, you might still have used it, or you may know about the concept but never have put it into action. In any event, it’s best to know and to act, and that’s exactly what we’re going to…
Tony Ferraro | November 7, 2014 | Lean | Facility Efficiency, Lean, Lean Manufacturing, Obeya, Organized Workplace, Six Sigma
Lean In Non-Profits
Lean Six Sigma for Non Profits We always like to hear about people applying business methodologies and mechanics in arguably unorthodox ways or markets, and today I stumbled across a LinkedIn discussion that happens to exemplify exactly that sentiment. User William Falquero seemed to be onto something interesting as he posed a question for other…
Tony Ferraro | September 2, 2014 | Lean | Lean
LinkedIn Discussion – The Most Important Lean and Six Sigma Tools
LinkedIn Discussion Unravels Important Lean and Six Sigma Tools Lean and Six Sigma methodology both work together toward the common goal of getting your business into its best shape possible. When conducting Lean operations, you’re looking at ways to reduce waste and variability and, ultimately, to make a work floor or overall business more productive…
Tony Ferraro | August 18, 2014 | Lean | Lean, Six Sigma
Why You’re Still A Lean Student – Using Lean Practice Routines to Avoid Common Growth Stunting
Linked Discussion Takes Aim at Common Issues with Lean Lean is, without a doubt, a stellar set of strategies and techniques for managing and, more importantly, improving the productions and efficiency of any given workplace. With a number of tools at one’s disposal, a Lean practitioner can, in theory, quickly transform a struggling operation into…
Tony Ferraro | July 29, 2014 | Lean | Lean
Lean Six Sigma Project Closure – A Guide To Seeing Efficiency Improvement Through to the End
Completing Six Sigma Projects Lean six sigma strategies and principles have dominated the industrial workplace for roughly half a century, and for good reason. To put it simply: Lean works, and Lean “blackbelts” or experts improve the flow and efficiency of (primarily but not exclusively) production-based businesses using tools that are time-proven in their effectiveness.…
Tony Ferraro | July 24, 2014 | Lean, Safety Solutions | Lean, Six Sigma
Lean Six Sigma – The 3 Most Important Tools for Beginners
A Discussion About Methods and Tools That Are The Most Useful In Lean Six Sigma Lean Six Sigma has absolutely revolutionized the way workplaces and production facilities alike are managed and laid out. Since the mid 20th century, transformations toward making businesses more efficient and less wasteful – measured in time, money, and more –…
Tony Ferraro | June 6, 2014 | Lean | Lean, Six Sigma
3 Ways To Use a Staging Area In Your Business
In production facilities, the term “staging area” can have many different meanings specific to many different tasks. These may range from simple loading areas to complex intake and outtake centers of a business. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways that a staging area can be used: 1. Pre-Shipping Area Often, a…
Tony Ferraro | February 11, 2014 | Lean | Lean, Staging
5 Easy Rules For Kanban Success
Have you ever heard of Kanban? This LEAN principle was developed specifically to help achieve a Just-In-Time, or JIT, production cycle. In a JIT cycle, products and goods are produced in exact accordance with observed demand, rather than predicted demand. This means that instead of projecting how many widgets you need to produce in a…
Tony Ferraro | January 30, 2014 | Kanban | Continuous Improvement, Kanban, Lean