In my last two posts I described the impact of fluctuations on the duration of the work on a continuously moving assembly line. One key tool for reducing fluctuations on Toyota assembly lines is the team leader, the frontline support for operators. Team leaders reduce fluctuations in general by taking over irregular tasks like delivering material, taking away trash, and explaining situations to a manager. They also reduce especially long fluctuations by supporting the operators in their own work if there are problems, thus reducing stops of the line. This post will look in more detail at the beneficial effects of team leaders on a moving assembly line.
Fluctuations on Continuously Moving Assembly Lines 3—The Value of Team Leaders
