Contact
Training, Planning And Doing An Improvement Effort
Marotta Scientific Controls, Inc. (Montville, New Jersey) designs, develops and manufactures valves, fluid control components and systems for commercial aerospace, space, industrial and defense applications.
Read MoreFollowing A Proven Path To Lean Implementation
Precision Machine Works, Inc. , located in Tacoma, Washington, is a manufacturer of complex machine parts and assemblies made to customer specifications.
Read MoreCompany Implements Lean Strategies
Many companies are embracing lean manufacturing to improve service to customers. ACCRA Manufacturing, Inc, (Bothell, Washington) is an example.
Read MoreSome Simple Ideas To Help Shop Scheduling
There are many ways to schedule orders through a shop. Companies enlist everything from simple, visual signals to integrated, highly functional computer systems.
Read MoreA Primer On Lean Manufacturing Techniques
In last month's column, I described the value stream mapping process and how it is a natural first step in identifying opportunities to streamline the manufacturing process. Once you recognize the areas for improvement, you need to understand the lean manufacturing techniques that can help.
Read MoreMapping A Path To Lean Manufacturing
We are hearing more and more about lean manufacturing these days. Our customers are telling us to get "lean" so we can both benefit.
Read MoreBack To Basics With The Simple Two-Bin Reorder System
We certainly have managed to make many things overly complicated during recent years. For example, we have invested great sums of money in complex computer systems designed to tell us when to order parts.
Read MoreTotal Productive Maintenance Increases Machine Efficiency
Last month I described the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) process and how companies can benefit from it. TPM involves creating a team charged with measuring machine performance, creating standards for preventive maintenance and inspecting equipment and keeping it clean.
Read MoreTotal Productive Maintenance—An Effective Technique
More companies are embracing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) as a means of keeping key machines up and running. TPM encompasses all of the key aspects of machine maintenance (reactive, preventive, predictive and so forth) with one key addition—it uses the skills of the machine operator to identify the need for maintenance early on.
Read MoreSome Simple Ideas For Setup Reduction
Long setup times are still a reality in many companies. Setup is one of those activities that adds no value to a part and, therefore, needs to be as short as possible.
Read MoreSometimes 'Efficiency' May Not Be Efficient
There have been countless times that I have visited machine shops and seen first-hand examples of perceived efficiencies that are not efficiencies at all. One of my biggest "pet peeves" is the "start the first operation on all the parts, then tear down and start the second operation on the same parts" approach to machining, which is often taken in the name of efficiency.
Read MoreCompanies Find Ways To Prosper During Slow Times
There is no doubt that many companies have experienced a drop-off in business during the past year. The economic downturn has affected almost every company in some way.
Read More
