Kaizen. Jidoka. Nagara. A lot of unique terminology is associated with lean manufacturing — all of it important. One term (and action) that’s fundamentally important is Gemba. Performing a Gemba walk through your facilities allows you to see how work gets done. And doing so helps you understand where you could improve operations. What’s a…
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Many manufacturers know they need to harness a leaner approach to maintenance. Unfortunately, they unknowingly sabotage their attempts before they can benefit from them. Problems of execution can bog down lean efforts — and even the best laid plans for leaner operations will fall short without proper foresight. To design and execute a lean strategy…
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Today’s manufacturing environment operates at full speed, including its maintenance operations. Having a finger on the pulse of your equipment’s condition not only keeps you in the loop about performance, it also unlocks the powerful potential for real-time maintenance. Being able to act and react without delay adds a versatile layer of agility to your…
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Unlike AC motors, DC motors require much more from a maintenance crew to properly keep running. But how does one quickly spot for problems in a DC motor without tearing it down unnecessarily? Here are few tips, using only basic inspection methods, to root out some probable issues that need addressing. How does the commutator…
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The new year means a new spring season is just around the corner, and people everywhere will be conducting their annual spring cleaning. Just like you might be scrubbing your baseboards and bathrooms, this is a great time to revisit your manufacturing plant cleaning procedures to see what can be improved upon or added to…
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Many manufacturing gigs are cyclical, with peaks and troughs of production throughout the year. And while operations may have adapted to ensure smoothness during both, manufacturers still using a linear maintenance program will see issues during times of heightened demand. The necessary solution is to adjust your maintenance schedule to account for the ebb and…
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Gamification seems to be the hot trend of the 2010s. Mobile apps allow people to gamify everything from weight loss to budget balancing. Can this trend be transferred to manufacturing? Can you impart training tips to your employees through gamification techniques? It may sound radical, but gamification is so popular for a reason. What Is…
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Every manufacturer battles against equipment obsolescence. As technologies get better and we make breakthroughs, even the most integral equipment falls by the wayside for something more efficient, effective, and sustainable. The key in winning the war against obsolescence is to not just expect it but also plan for it. Equipment obsolescence may be a challenge,…
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The U.S. manufacturing sector ended 2018 on a low note, according to the December 2018 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. PMI® for the month measured 54.1%, down more than 5% from November, marking the lowest point in more than 12 months. Economic uncertainties are coming to a head and the global economy remains cautious. And,…
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In manufacturing, you always need to keep your eye on the bottom line. When word comes along about new technology that will impact your industry, the first thing you need to ask is how relevant is this technology to your manufacturing business, and how soon do you need to adopt it? Trying to adapt to…
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