Lean manufacturing concepts eliminate wasteful practices while delivering increased value to the customer. These principles are simple to apply but require full employee participation and relentless ...

Lean manufacturing is a production system that eliminates waste through all steps in the process to build a product. Companies using lean systems work to reduce costs, inventory and cycle time -- the ...

How can a lean factory tollgate process work? Here is a sample tollgate path for re-working your facility’s layout – or setting it up from scratch. Tollgate 0 – Completely evaluate brownfield and ...

There are a number of articles and books written on lean manufacturing techniques and lean construction, including many in the pages of Snips about applying lean in sheet metal shops. This article ...

Lean assembly in precision sheet metal fabrication exemplifies 5S, tool shadow boards and all. About a decade ago, during a ...

With the right approach to continuous improvement, printing companies can thrive if they’re willing to make the investment. To be successful, a company must recognize that processes are the central ...

If you haven’t started applying lean construction techniques to your sheet metal shop, it’s not too late to start and get ahead of your competition. A few years ago, many ductwork fabrication shop ...

Don't bother reaching for the doorknob at Indow, a Portland company that makes energy-efficient window inserts. Chances are it’s not there. The handles of the company refrigerator have also been ...

Some toolmakers have been a little slow to adopt some of the principles of lean manufacturing. The thinking, as was explained to me in the past, is that each tool is a unique item. It's the opposite ...

Not having any certifications, I learned lean through the school of hard knocks. My lean experience has been mainly through managing supplier development projects. I like lean thinking and practice as ...

SmartPlanet colleagues Andrew Nusca and Larry Dignan have been doing a great job following the debacle involving Toyota’s sticky gas pedals, and point to discussions about how the automaker's ...