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KANBAN IS A TOOL, SIX-SIGMA IS A SET OF TOOLS, LEAN IS A WAY OF LIFE.
Recently I listen to Mark Grayban’s (of Leanblog podcast) interview with Jim Womack. Womack discussed the possible threat to Toyota’s growth due to lack of trainers properly trained in TPS.
http://kanban.blogspot.com/
Our next network meeting:
Where: The Rose Corp., 401 N. 8th Street, Reading PA 19601 Phone: 610.376.5004
When: Thursday, April 19, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: Rose will be discussing their posting of key measures, the problems and anxiety they have had, and the value they have experienced. Come see what, where and why they are posting.
Who: Due to space considerations 2 representatives per member company
Why: We feel the posting of key measures is difficult to implement and maintain. We witnessed some key measure posting at Yoder Brothers earlier, Rose has a different story with the same theme. Effective measures are powerful, learn how to harness this power.
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Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
Gemba means “the real place”. I like to think of it as where the action is. The effective use of Gemba supports the “go see” principle.
The Gemba walk affords company leaders, managers and supervisors a simple, easy means of supporting overall continuous improvement and process standardization while helping to insure alignment of the efforts of all teams.
Our subject was Disaster Recovery
Presentations by Michael Goldberg of RestoreCore on Emergency Planning and Pete Conners of Remcon Plastics on a brief history of Remcon and the business, financial, physical and emotional impact of the Reading flood of 6/22/06. Significant input from Tony Byrne of Misco Products who are recovering from a fire January 11, 2007.
A plant tour illustrated the progress Remcon has made since our last visit and good, useful feedback to Remcon from the network regarding the best things they saw and opportunities for improvement.
Attending:
Not in attendance:
Expect news for our next meeting (early April if possible) within two weeks. Both Utilitech and Insinger express interest in hosting.
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Continuous improvement and cultural change are key components of a successful lean conversion. Trust is the “hidden waste” we rarely discuss but a critical obstacle to their achievement. This podcast discusses this sensitive subject.
Comments Please…
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No matter what you are told, business software will not wake you up in the morning and make you breakfast. As the buyers and users of the software you must be prepared to plan what you really need and how to get and maintain that complete and accurate information in a timely, value adding manner.
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In a lean transformation the daily work life of supervisors and front line managers, typically changes than any other position in the company. Supervisors and front line managers are the sergeants and lieutenants in the war against waste. What do they need to be successful?
Our next network meeting:
Where: Remcon Plastics, 208 Chestnut Street, Reading PA 19602 Phone: 610.376.2666
When: Thursday, February 22, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: Remcon will be discussing “competing effectively in adverse conditions”. As many of you know, in 2006 Remcon’s lower facility was ruined in a flood, requiring all operations to be combined in their Chestnut Street facility. All this happened while they eliminated a low or no margin product line (kayak’s) that was a significant portion of their sales volume……….see how difficult conditions further strengthened Remcon.
Who: Due to space considerations 2 representatives per member company
Why: Adversity is part of life, personal or professional. Since we scheduled this meeting network charter member Misco Products had a very serious fire (with no injuries).
Discussion topics included:
Flow, waste & workplace layouts
Key performance measures and indicators (A3 forms)
Bi-monthly round-table meetings
Standup meetings (Gemba)
Audits
Working on the right things and having fun
We toured the facility and watched their recently developed “stick cell” functioning very well four weeks after start-up.
A very valuable meeting for all in attendance.
Next meeting will be in late February at Remcon Plastics Inc…..details to follow.
Over twenty members attended…..the group welcome it’s newest member, UtiliTech Inc represented today by Steve Bobick and Ian Bowman
Attending member companies:
UtiliTech
Misco Products
The Rose Corporation
Yoder Brothers (our host)
Insinger Machine
Remcon Plastics
American LaFrance Inc.
Absent:
Clean Burn Inc.
Reading Powder Coatings, Inc.
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Listen to Shingo Prize winner Drew Locher discuss the power of administrative lean.
Brief discussions and stories of lean practices, issues, approaches, and creating a favorable environment for continuous improvement
