Hace algunos años mientras recibía un entrenamiento en métodos de mejora de la productividad (Just In Time) con un par de excelentes senséis japoneses, aproveché la experiencia de los formadores y les pregunté si en las empresas japonesas estos sistemas siempre habían funcionado con el mismo nivel del intensidad a lo largo del tiempo, a...Read More

For many it can be difficult to answer the question “what does that entail?” when answering a question about what you do for a living. That’s because we don’t often see what we do as a process. We don’t instinctively think about inputs & outputs and find the right words to summarize what happens in...Read More

Both vigorous safety and manufacturing processes are necessary to achieve operational excellence.  Each requires an effective utilization of resources working together for the common goals.  Given this, consider that safety and manufacturing processes should not be exclusive of one another.  Their co-existence and interdependence are foundational to operational excellence. Improving manufacturing safety is worth the...Read More

Understanding the Relationship Between Production and Safety in the Workplace Why is safety viewed as a competing priority with production in a manufacturing plant, throughput in a distribution center or simply getting things done? If we treat these elements as competing values, then people will respond by prioritizing one thing over the other and making...Read More

Does your Spare Parts Management process support or hinder your manufacturing efficiencies? Fewer areas within a plant sum up the term ‘the hidden factory’ better than a Storeroom within the facility.  It can be an oasis of opportunity but contemplating tackling it can turn you green at the very thought. The spare parts management process...Read More

Operational Excellence Operational Excellence as an umbrella term is the coordinated application of a whole suite of tools and techniques to improve the performance (TPM, CI, Kaizen, Lean, Six sigma, Agile) Regardless of the type of operation you are responsible for excellence is always the goal. Excellence can be thought of in many ways Better...Read More