In any productive workspace there are four types of things – the things used to create your product (inventory), the things needed to convert the inventory into product (tools), the furnishings and tables and shelves to hold the first and second types of things, and everything else. It is the last category, “everything else”, that we are here to discuss.
Author Archives: David
2nd S – Set in Order (Seiton)
Merry Christmas! I know loads of folks won’t see this because of the holidays, but I’m trying to be consistent. We’ve come a long way in reverse, walking backwards through the 5S’s. Today let’s talk about Set in Order. This comes out of the Japanese Seiton which technically applies more to neatness than order, butContinue reading “2nd S – Set in Order (Seiton)”
3rd S – Shine (Seiso)
According to the original book “The 5S’s” by Takashi Osada the elements breakdown thusly: Seiri (Organization) Seiton (Neatness) Seiso (Cleaning) Seiketsu (Standardization) Shitsuke (Discipline) The condition of your environment is a direct reflection of your value for the space. When I was introduced to the quintuplets the English translations had been tweaked to also haveContinue reading “3rd S – Shine (Seiso)”
4th S – Standardize (Seiketsu)
We’re working backwards through the 5S’s. Last essay was on Sustain, or how to make the 5S’s “stick”. This time let’s look at what “Standardize” is all about and how to apply it. Standardize can mean several things, but the original intent (as far as I can tell) is to find visual management tools toContinue reading “4th S – Standardize (Seiketsu)”
5th S – Sustain (Shitsuke)
Consistency is a problem. Not just in engineering, but universally – finding ways to do something the same way every time is tricky. Trying to get a group to accomplish this feat is even trickier. It takes weeks of practice to get a marching band to look – and sound – as polished as theyContinue reading “5th S – Sustain (Shitsuke)”
Important tools – 5S
Where did 5S come from? What is the purpose? Why is this not taught in college? It’s fun researching the roots of 5S. Some websites suggest the core fundamentals are traced back to Italy in the 1500’s. That aside, the structured practice of the five elements – Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke – reportedly cameContinue reading “Important tools – 5S”
Kaizen Cookbook
After years of writing out the same forms and instructions, making procedures for other companies with the same charts and instructions (in their template, of course), I have spent the time to just put it together one last time in a format everyone can get their hands around. A book. It is available on AmazonContinue reading “Kaizen Cookbook”
Manufacturing 1987 style
Back in the day… Back in 1987 I was consulting with a company that made aircraft galleys and other assorted aircraft interiors. The company was Nordskog Industries, and the owner – Bob Nordskog – had launched his company decades earlier (1951) when he learned that the demand for someone to make little kitchens for aircraftContinue reading “Manufacturing 1987 style”
Tools and timing
Let’s talk about SMED. Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) is the philosophical approach to changeover that says “What do we need to do to make this changeover happen in under one minute?” Odds are good that the one minute changeover is impossible, impractical, or unaffordable – but that doesn’t change the philosophy. The goal,Continue reading “Tools and timing”
Tiers of joy
Without a doubt the most fast and effective way I have found to bring improvement to an organization is through Tier Boards. They bring problems to the surface fast, they make everything actionable, they provide a single location for questions and answers, nobody has to be consulted. I worked with a pharmaceutical company that hadContinue reading “Tiers of joy”
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