LEAN MANUFACTURING ARTICLES
Get inspired and share!LEAN MANUFACTURING ARTICLES
Get inspired and share!
Understanding Manufacturing Bottlenecks Part 1: Demand In
Our previous blog introduced the three main categories of bottlenecks that apply to a manufacturing operation: demand in, people around, and flow through This article will discuss the subject of demand in more detail, along with how to understand and think...
Visualize a Connected System to See Manufacturing Bottlenecks
There are only three manufacturing bottlenecks that matter: demand in, flow-through and people around. They all connect to each other and any other apparent bottleneck can be grouped under one of these primary bottlenecks. A bottleneck is a step or point in a process...
5 Manufacturing Problems That Can Be Solved With Lean
As lean integrators, we’ve seen all types of manufacturing and production operations and all sorts of issues that prevent those operations from achieving their next level of success. Here are a few common issues we see and insights into how lean can be applied to...
How To Create A Lean-Friendly Company Culture
It’s fun to go on benchmarking trips. It’s fun to go see Toyota or Toyota-inspired operations in Japan. Everyone comes back from those experiences with a head full of “what could be” and ideas on what to change, all at the same time. Then they get back to...
What Are Tugger Cart Systems And How Do They Improve Material Flow?
One of our key phrases at Geolean is “Get the fork outta here!” When we work with clients to create their lean system, removing forklifts from the manufacturing area is often one of the first initiatives. Getting rid of forklifts makes sense, but it’s not always an...
Why Your Manufacturing Workstation Needs a Makeover
You might think you’re doing it all right in terms of applying lean manufacturing principles in your factory: you’ve visualized processes, are working to go forklift-free, and you’ve got buy-in from top management. But if you’re just using standard catalog...
What are Flow Racks and How do they Improve Material Flow?
There are four main groups of physical equipment that support material flow: carts, workstations, packaging, and flow racks. Of those four groups, flow racks are the least understood. It may be because the others are encountered in normal life - if you go to any...
See your Plant Like a Monopoly Board
I was walking a customer’s plant recently and trying to convince them why they should switch to small totes from large bins. We discussed the benefits to operator ergonomics, product mix, production scheduling, material delivery, inventory, and on and on....
AI is No Match for NS
While enjoying some lakeside time I saw a beverage koozie with a great phrase: “Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”. I have a very positive outlook on the potential for any person to grow and develop from their current capability. I also have a...
Use Action to Build Positive Emotions for Your Lean System
Why are we talking about emotion with lean? Isn’t lean this bad system used to cut people and make companies “run lean” so the owners can sell and profit? We’re talking about emotion because that is the only way lean can succeed. And when lean succeeds...
Apply Custom Lean Solutions to Pursue One Piece Flow Production
Successful lean system integration comes from connecting all elements of lean (principles, concepts, tools) across every dimension of your operation (space, time, people, financial). Although sometimes a principle is easy to understand on the surface, it is not always...
How Modular Solutions Support Six Sigma Projects
Let’s ignore the fact that Six Sigma is meaningless as a statistical process measurement and control program for 99.99966% of cases. We will also ignore the murky origins of the term, which may have been based on either a typo or a misinterpretation, and the deviation...
5 Steps to Sell your Boss on Lean Implementation
You know the importance and value of lean production, and you’ve seen the ways in which it can improve productivity and output, increase plant safety, and save money. But as is often the case for those in EHS and Continuous Improvement roles, you’re not the sole...
What is 5s and How Can it Contribute to your Lean Manufacturing Goals?
Just like “lean manufacturing”, “Toyota Production System”, and “continuous improvement”, 5S is a term that gets thrown around a lot but the approach is often misunderstood. Even more important than the standard definition of “What is 5S” is “Why” you would want to...
You Might be a Backwards Manufacturing Operation If…
Mark Twain said, “Humor is the good-natured side of a truth”. One of Geolean’s principles is to have fun at work, to the extent that we don’t call our customer visits meetings, we call them field trips. These field trips allow us to experience truth and...
Aerospace Supply Chain Improvements are at the Heart of Competitiveness
A perspective on the aerospace industry by Geolean founder Ludovic Ott - - On May 5th the first flight of a Chinese-designed narrow-body jet was a thunderclap to the rest of the aerospace industry. Though commercial service introduction – planned in 2021 –...
Why Tube and Joint Design is the Right Choice for your Flow Racks and Workstations
With so many options out there to support your material flow system, how do you know you’re picking the right equipment solution? Knowing that adaptation to change is a key requirement, we recommend tube and joint designs for flexibility, ease of assembly, and...
How your Company Culture is Holding you Back
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast!” - Giga Information Group “Culture is how you treat each other” - Multiple sources “Corporate culture is unique to every corporation because every corporation serves a different customer” - Patty McCord, former VP HR...
In Cocktails and Business, Integration is the Key to Success
I was enjoying a bar seat at one of my favorite local restaurants. It’s a special place that welcomes your entry, guides the pleasure of your meal, and leaves you feeling lighter when you leave. An elegant couple sat down beside me and placed their order...
What is Lean Manufacturing?
The idea of “lean” appears all over the business press - lean healthcare, lean management, lean startup, lean manufacturing - name a context and industry and you’ve seen lean applied to it. Everyone is trying to get lean, hold kaizen events, do 5S, implement just in...
DOES YOUR MATERIAL FLOW NEED IMPROVEMENT? WE CAN HELP!
IS YOUR FACTORY A GOOD FIT FOR LEAN INTEGRATION?
Fill out our lean integration checklist to determine if your factory might be ready for lean integration.
THE COMPLETE
GUIDE TO LEAN INTEGRATION
Here's everything you need to know broken down into manageable parts that are easy to implement.
IS YOUR FACTORY A GOOD FIT FOR LEAN INTEGRATION?
Fill out our lean integration checklist to determine if your factory might be ready for lean integration.
THE COMPLETE
GUIDE TO LEAN INTEGRATION
Here's everything you need to know broken down into manageable parts that are easy to implement.
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