Uh-oh – no category yet on this post. Or did I just forget to unclick “Uncategorized”
This series of blog posts looks into more detail at the Eight Disciplines Problem Solving (8D), a popular method to tackle recurring problems. In my last post, I looked at where the Eight Disciplines Problem Solving (8D) originated, like the Ford Pinto fuel tank scandal. This post goes deeper into what the Eight Disciplines Problem Solving is actually for, when to use it, and when not.
The goal is to have everything relevant easily visible on the shop floor. Ideally, this is through the design of the shop floor as part of visual management. But a lot of other information is hard to see directly and can be shown best through data. Every well-managed shop floor has their different dashboards and other data sheets with information. This blog post focuses on why you should have your operators write down this data by hand. Lets have a look…
Lean manufacturing is a great set of philosophies and tools to improve your production system, or for that matter any kind of operational system. Yet, many supposed lean implementations fail. One of the various reasons for failure of a lean project is a lack of attention to detail. Let me explain:
Henkaten is an approach by Toyota to deal with changes in their manufacturing system. It is one of the lesser-known words of the lean vocabulary. Often translated as “change point,” it is about managing a change. However, there is no magic behind yet another Japanese word. It is all just the basics like most methods in lean manufacturing: attention to details, standards, and visual management. Let me show you!
In this second post on KPIs, I will look at the quality of key performance indicators (KPIs). These are essential tools for measuring an organization’s progress toward its strategic goals. The quality of these indicators is critical as it impacts management’s decision-making and subsequent actions. Let’s have a look!
This post looks at more plants we visited on our Van of Nerds tour in France in 2022. The focus this time is the aircraft industry, in particularly the engines. We visited a major maker of aircraft engines, or their nacelles and thrust reversers to be more precise, Safran in Le Havre. But we also visited two suppliers for engine components. LISI specializes in high-performance bolts and screws for aircraft, but also has some highly advanced digital displays on their shop floor. JPB makes well-designed inspection ports for aircraft engines, for which they developed some really clever digital solutions, which they now also provide to others. It was definitely a set of highly interesting visits. Let me show you!
Pretty much ten years ago, in April 2011, Industry 4.0 was first presented to the audience at the Hannover Messe in Germany. Industry 4.0 made lots of promises about everything getting better and easier. But, <surprise Pikachu>, it did not. Let’s have a look.
In this last post on “Respect for People” or “Respect for Humanity,” I will look at all the difficulties in having respect for others. There is often the cultural aspect. There is the problem that everybody is different. One great (but not always easy tool) is Feedback! I will also talk a bit more about Toyota.