5S : The Strong Fondations of Lean Manufacturing - Primary features of Lean Manufacturing
Article Index
1. Primary features of Lean Manufacturing
To plan and create a better, quicker and less expensive way of producing sustainable products (respectful of the environment) that meet the needs of clients, staff, and shareholders of companies is the main goal of Lean Manufacturing.
For this purpose, it is necessary to use all resources as best as possible, including those within the company, especially such resources as:
- The motivation and expertise of its associates,
- Material resources, such as mechanical devices and facilities, and
- Financial resources.
Its the proper use of these resources that provides a generating system with a concept for progress and tools that will allow for a defined direction for this purpose.
The abandonment of existing concepts and the consideration of how to make changes as opposed to explaining what cannot be done are commonly accepted characteristics known as Continuing Improvement or Kaizen.
A systematic research on the elimination of waste is an applied concept for this way of thinking.
7 types of situations where loss usually occurs concerning goods and services are found in the following areas:
- Over production
- Inventory
- Useless operations
- Transportation
- Useless changes,
- Expectations,
- Rejects and modifications
The Total Productive Maintenance, analysis and simplification of products and information activities, prompt reference change, the Kanban system, suggestions from staff members and the 5S approach are among the tools to be used for the elimination of wasted efforts and loss in the workplace.