Just-in-time (JIT) methodology focuses on producing and delivering products precisely when needed, without waste or delay. JIT has become increasingly popular in supply chain management due to its ability to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and increase customer satisfaction.  However, implementing JIT does not come without its own set of challenges. This article will explore the key challenges of JIT implementation ..read more

The 5S methodology is an organization system for workplaces used in manufacturing and other industries for decades to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase safety. It is also considered one foundational pillar of having a Lean company. The 5S’s stand for the procedures that include Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain, and each S represents a different step ..read more

What is Hoshin Kanri? Hoshin Kanri is a management process that aims at aligning a company’s functions and activities with its strategic objectives. The process involves developing specific plans which consists of precise goals, actions, timelines, responsibilities and metrics. Hoshin Kanri usually starts with a high level organizational plan that involves setting of all the necessary goals required to achieve ..read more

Benefits of Implementing Total Productive Maintenance Why do we practice Total Productive Maintenance? The simple answer is that we want our critical machines to be in a good working condition at all times. When this happens, we are able to satisfy customer demand. Total Productive Maintenance improves flow within the value chain through elimination of downtime caused by machine breakdowns ..read more

Nemawashi is consensus based | Source What is Nemawashi? Nemawashi is a Japanese term which literally translated means ‘work around the roots’. It is a consensus building technique that aims at removing obstacles to proposal approval by seeking an informal audience with the decision makers before a formal meeting is held. The concept is not about lobbying as many people think of ..read more

Summary Inventory quantity is a measure of how well lean has matured Reducing inventory without streamlining processes can be a recipe for disaster Inventory velocity is more important than inventory reduction Supplier management to align to lean goals is key How inventory is received matters Inventory is Muda The ideal situation in lean is to have zero inventory. But for ..read more

One of the greatest selling points of lean is that it leads to faster throughput. You would expect people in a lean plant running around frantically producing goods very fast. But the reality in a truly lean organization is markedly different. While the output is very high, you will also notice that people are working at a comfortable pace. Why ..read more

Jidoka Basically, Jidoka is a Japanese word that means giving machines human intelligence — this helps in building in quality into products. Stopping to fix problems is and developing countermeasures ultimately leads to better productivity in the long run. But Jidoka is not only about machines that can stop themselves. In line with the TPS philosophy, Jidoka is also about ..read more

We have looked at common poka yoke examples in daily life. But I thought it would be a nice thing to zero down on other poka yoke examples in specific areas. These new series of posts will start with poka yoke examples in the kitchen. From the basic equipment to cooking methods, you will find that the kitchen is full ..read more

A project manager's life is a constant juggling act. You have to ensure that all your tasks are on time and within budget, while also keeping the team motivated and happy. The last thing you need is more work! Fortunately, there are plenty of tools out there to help you manage your projects more efficiently, but which ones should you ..read more