Made-to-Order Lean

9

 

Making Manpower Improvements

To improve your manpower utilization, this chapter gives you eight techniques that, when applied, reduce the time necessary to complete a task. Some of these methods have already been presented in some form in this book, but this chapter summarizes them and details those that have not been previously discussed. The eight recommended improvements are as follows:

• 5S (workplace organization)

• Standardized work

• Operator balance walls

• Day-by-hour charts

• Cross-trained team members

• Motion kaizen

• Teamwork (with team leaders)

• Andon systems

Some of these methods are somewhat difficult to apply in high-mix production plants and in job shops, so this chapter presents some variations that facilitate application ...