Whether you have a small or a large manufacturing firm, it has been proven time and time again that circular or the lean manufacturing system works. If you’re just starting out in the industry, lean manufacturing is one of the most important processes you need to understand to streamline operations and reduce overall waste.
The five principles of lean manufacturing are a rigid but effective system that creates a well-rounded atmosphere of trust in an organization that is based upon a continuous culture of improvement which ensures that a company stays on top of its game.
So if you want a few practical tips that would get you going straight into the processes of lean manufacturing, here are a few things you must know.
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Educate every member of your staff
Since this is an organization, it is vital that you are able to communicate the principles of lean manufacturing to them all. If you’re the only person who understands the terms and purpose of this system, then it would be impossible for you to enforce it regularly and truly practice the process.
Keep in mind though that you don’t have to teach your workers in a classroom setting or a lecture-type webinar. But it is very important that you allow them to absorb every bit of information since this will be critical as to how your company can move forward.
Also, note that learning is a continuous process even for yourself. So remember to conduct refreshers if necessary, especially if you and your staff are veering away from the principles even for a bit. If you can’t keep track of this, you can ask a trusted person or hire an external consultant who will do the tracking for you.
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Implement gradually
No success happens overnight. While changes you’ve implemented will in fact make things better, you won’t see the results at the onset of making the change. The same goes for most of life’s processes, including baking, starting a business, painting, and even falling in love. Lean manufacturing cuts out unnecessary processes and adds value to your entire operations, but your staff, and even yourself, won’t be able to keep track of it every time. That’s why you have to ease into it.
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Work on your flow
One of the most important principles of lean manufacturing is identifying ways to make your operations smoother and faster, such as using an inline air dryer. This is where flow or continuous flow comes in. Some lean manufacturing practices that tackle improving flow is breaking down the steps and finding weak spots, leveling out your employees’ workload, and training them to be better equipped for their tasks.
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Eliminate nonessentials
Speaking of keeping the proper flow of your processes, a way to do this is by eliminating waste that could hinder operations. In a way, this could include anything from non-performing employees to equipment that doesn’t really meet expectations.
Manufacturing equipment is pretty expensive but they can still be switched to better tools if necessary. To make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth at that front, it’s best that you transact with reliable manufacturing equipment brands like Bdtronic. They have state of the art equipment for all your needs including adhesive dispensing machines at https://www.bdtronic.com/dispensing/dispensing-machines/.
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Allow yourself some room to grow
Regardless of your reasons for trying lean manufacturing like increasing production or scaling back on costs, you have to understand that your operations must remain flexible. This means you don’t have to play by the book all the time. Lean manufacturing isn’t the law and it isn’t some sort of Bible either. You should just use it as a guide on how to conduct operations. Make changes, skip a step if necessary. But always do so with caution. Allow yourself to only take calculated risks so that your company can grow organically. Trust the process.
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Track your progress
Whether you went full lean or you just had a little taste of it, you have to be able to record your processes. This makes your strategy replicable especially if you’d ever want to expand operations. Write down your journey regularly to make sure that you can compare previous practices and make lean work for you.
Just like any productivity system, lean manufacturing helps businesses stay afloat and teach them ways on how to be better at leading the markets. However, you should remember that the business is yours and if lean is not working for you, you can still customize it or scrap it altogether. The important thing is that you know when to push forward or when to stop when things aren’t working as planned.
Infographic provided by Atlantic Pacific Equipment, Inc., an industry expert scaffolding supplier