Defining objectives to achieve Lean manufacturing success

There are dozens of potential wastes that could plague a manufacturing company – material wastes from unused components, energy waste from poorly used utilities and employee waste from potentially redundant processes are among some of the top concerns. But, as Henry Ford puts it, time waste is perhaps the worst, because there is nothing that can be salvaged from it. You could consolidate leftover wood chippings to use in other products,  for example, but you can't do anything with wasted time.

Because time is such a crucial asset, it's absolutely paramount that businesses organize their Lean manufacturing efforts in such a way that they are able to maximize every second of every working day. One of the best ways to do that is by having clearly defined goals and objectives, according to the Woodworking Network.

Improving efficiency by knowing objectives

What is any given process or task supposed to accomplish? By knowing the precise answer to this question, manufacturers will be in a much better position to improve the efficiency of various workplace actions. Time waste happens when people are unsure what the goals of their actions are, – by making these objectives clear, companies can eliminate non-value-added actions.

“Avoiding the pitfalls of getting bogged down within significant problems that can side track the implementation of a Lean approach and result in Lean efforts being exerted in vain must be avoided,” the news source explains. “Clearly the goal is to gain financially, always focusing on the product line that brings the greatest return, but what are your objectives in adopting a Lean approach to production?”

Eliminating downtime

Downtime is an issue at almost every manufacturer. Even when businesses understand their objectives and know what needs to be done, there tends to be some time waste associated with what is perceived to be mandatory downtime. For example, the production of complex components may create downtime in the assembly process as workers wait for the materials to be finished.

However, there is always something else that can be done in this time frame, even if it isn't directly associated with the job at hand. Many manufacturers, for instance, try to schedule Kaizen events or other meetings during downtime to ensure that something is always being accomplished. By taking this always-active approach, businesses can minimize time waste.