Chapter 4: Lean Systems Flashcards
Lean systems
Operations systems that maximize value added by each of a company’s activities by removing waste and delays from them
Encompass the entirety of a company’s operations
Just in time system
JIT
A key foundation of a lean system. Represents a collection of practices that eliminate waste (aka muda) by cutting excess capacity or inventory and removing non-value-added activities
Eight types of waste
- Overproduction
- Inappropriate processing
- Waiting
- Transportation (excessive movement/ material handing)
- Unnecessary Motion
- Excess Inventory
- Defects
- Underutilization of employees
Goal of lean systems
To eliminate the eight types of waste
Produce services and products only as needed
Continuously improve value-added benefits of operations
Kaizen
Japanese, means “change for the better”
An approach to process improvement that centers the understanding that excess capacity/inventory hides underlying problems in a process. Excess capacity/inventory is removed to better spotlight areas for improvement
often uses “PDCA” process (plan, do, check, act)
Techniques to identify areas for continuous improvement
-maintaining low inventories
- periodically stressing the system
- focusing on the elements of the lean system
Supply chain considerations in lean systems
- close supplier ties
- small lot sizes
JIT II system
Aka vendor-managed inventories
Supplier is brought into the plant to be an active member of the purchasing office of the customer, empowered to plan and schedule replenishment of their materials
Fosters an extremely close interaction with suppliers
Benefits of small lot sizes
- reduces average inventory level
- inventory moves faster
- if defect discovered, less items to inspect
- helps maintain uniform workload and prevent overproduction
- makes it easier to rearrange workflow order
Disadvantages of small lot sizes
Increased setup frequency
Single digit setup
The goal of having a setup time of less than 10 minutes
Process considerations in lean systems
- pull method of workflow
- quality at the source
- uniform workstation loads
- standardized components and work methods
- flexible workforce
- automation
- five S (5S) practices
- total productive (preventative) maintenance (TPM)
Pull method of material flows
A method in which customer demand activated the production of a service or item
Commonly used in lean operations
Push method of material flows
A method in which production of the item begins in advance of customer needs
Dependant on forecasting
Quality at the source
A philosophy whereby defects are caught and corrected where they are created.
Goal for workers to act as their own quality inspectors and never pass defective units to the next process
Jidoka
A visual management system that Automatically stops the process when something is wrong and then fixing the problems on the line itself as they occur
Separates worker and machine activities by freeing workers from tending to machines constantly, allowing a single worker to staff multiple operations simultaneously
Poka-yoke
Mistake-proofing methods aimed at designing fail-safe systems that minimize human error
Andon
A system that gives machines and machine operations the ability to signal the occurrence of any abnormal conditions
Ways to achieve uniform workstation load
- reservations for service processes
- differential pricing to manage demand
- scheduling to same daily workload for manufacturing (capacity planning –>master production schedule –> daily workload)
Takt time
Cycle time of a process needed to match the rate of production to the rate of sales or consumption
Heijunka
Leveling of production load by both volume and product mix.
Instead of building to actual flow of orders builds to overall demand leveled out so same amount being made each day
Mixed- model assembly
A type of assembly that produces a mix of models in smaller lots
Five S (5S)
A methodology consisting of five workplace practices:
- sorting
- straightening
- shining
- standardizing
- sustaining
Conducive to visual controls and lean production
Enabler/foundation of lean systems
Why are line flows recommended for designing lean systems layouts?
- eliminate waste
- reduced frequency of setups (if volume is large enough setups may be eliminated entirely)
One-worker, multiple-machines cell
OWMM
A one person cell in which a worker operates several different machines simultaneously to achieve a line flow. Some tasks are automated and operator performs non-automated tasks
Reduces inventory queues and overall labor needed
Used when volumes are insufficient to keep multiple line workers busy
Group technology
GT
An option for achieving line-flow layouts with low volume processes; technique creates cells not limited to just one worker and has a unique way of selecting work to be done by the cell
Groups part or products with similar characteristics/processing requirements in families and sets aside groups of machines for their production (minimizes setup)
Kanban
A Japanese word meaning “card” or “visible record” that refers to the cards used to control the flow of the production through the factory
Goal to ensure company has minimum amount of inventory to keep production running and that production is being pulled by customer demand