TIMWOOD at Work!
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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 help remember a specific set of 7 different wastes: Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Over-Processing, and Defects. Each of these wastes can contribute to the failure of running a smooth and successful business enterprise.
TIMWOOD Helps an Auto Shop
In order to understand TIMWOOD a bit better, let’s jump into a scenario involving an auto shop.
A local auto shop has been lacking in efficiency for years and has decided to ramp-up their procedures and processes to help eliminate waste and improve productivity. In order to do this, they have enlisted the help of TIMWOOD. When implementing TIMWOOD, it is not necessary to engage each component if it is not specific or related to your business. Nonetheless, the auto shop will make the right choices based upon their business needs.
First, the auto shop chooses to eliminate some items related to inventory and rid themselves of extra office supplies and auto parts that are not necessary for the daily functioning of the business. By doing this, it frees up space and also makes the work environment less cluttered and more efficient.
Second, the business also eliminates some over-processing issues by reducing the redundancy of printing and storing copies of previous business transactions and invoices. Instead of saving these records and printing them and filing them away, they decide to implement a paperless system which allows them to simply look up their archived transactions and invoices electronically to eliminate the need for printing extra copies.
Lastly, the auto shop also cuts down on defects such as not having the proper tools needed for the job. The needed tools should be available for use and in an easy to access area at all times during business hours.
Check your Understanding of TIMWOOD
Let’s check your understanding of TIMWOOD. Consider the following waste scenarios and see if you can choose the right type of waste. Remember, TIMWOOD is Transport, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Over-processing, and Defects.
1. An overabundance of plastic wrapping on a new DVD.
Answer: Over-Processing. There is too much wrapping, the same protection could be provided by using less packaging.
2. Having to constantly walk across the room to utilize a file cabinet.
Answer: Motion. This situation elicits a waste of motion. The file cabinet should be relocated to a closer location so unneeded motions can be eliminated.
3. Employee’s electronic keys do not work to get into the secure place of business.
Answer: Defects. There is a defect with either the key reader or the electronic keys; this should be rectified back to working order so employees can enter the workplace with ease.
4. A box of supplies is frequently moved around a building.
Answer: Transport. The box should have a permanent location so the supplies are not at risk for being damaged or lost due to unnecessary movements.
5. An office has a stockpile of every color ink pen available.
Answer: Inventory. The pens are just sitting in storage and not adding any value to the business. There really isn’t any need to store ink pens in every color.
The elimination of TIMWOOD can be extremely helpful in any type of work environment. Go ahead, give TIMWOOD a try and see what types of waste you can eliminate!
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