Lean is the process of eliminating waste and increasing productivity in manufacturing. Lean is important because it helps facilities work more efficiently and get significantly more work done.
People centric: Focuses on the employees well being and growth
Profit centric: Maximizes the profits you can get
Lean offers a way to identify and eliminate time and material waste to make production more efficient. An example of this is if you had to preform a repetitive motion, it would be best to let a robotic arm do the motion while you go out and complete more tasks.
The first time i really got introduced to Lean manufacturing is out on the shop floor at Skills inc where lean is very important. I was with a mentor on one of the CNC machines and there was a table with all of the tools hanging on it. This allowed for the machinist to use those tools and store them again as fast as possible without having to take more than 3 steps. Having those tools nearby is a example of Motion in lean manufacturing. I attempted to make the organization a better place by putting tools and materials back where i found them so that the machinists dont have to wonder around looking for their tool i misplaced. The result of my actions are that the machinists tools are where they want it to be for them to do their work as efficiently as possible.
One experience that comes to mind when talking about lean is when i was sick with pneumonia. I was bed ridden and couldn't get up to get my medicine. To solve that problem, i had one of my parents bring a container with all of my medicine in it and place it by my bed alongside with water. This made it so i wouldn't have to get up when it was time for my medicine. My house did not have a Lean mindset so i had to take matters into my own hands and ask for the medicine to be by my side. I attempted to make Lean better in my house by requestion that the transport to get the medicine get cut off and would be at an arms reach. The result of my attempts were for the next days i can just reach over and take my medicine.
A Lean house is a visual representation of lean, its a way to organize all of your efforts. The lean house consist of the foundation, walls, and roof, representing that the top cant be achieved without the bottom.
Foundation: focuses on people, purpose, and stability
Walls: Quality and production
Roof: Goals of the company.
Kaizen means change-good in japanese, it stands for continuous improvement. This is important in the manufacturing industry because you have to keep improving. Kaizen leads to better productivity and a better company.
The 3 M's are
Muda: Waste
Muri: Overburden
Mura: Unbalanced
These are important because it helps a company identify and remove these inefficiencies