Lean Manufacturing Essay

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Lean Manufacturing: An Essay The main objectives of lean manufacturing, is to lower production costs and increase output all while limiting amounts of waste. This can be done by reducing excess use of raw materials and/or eliminating product features that are of no value to customers. Lean manufacturing strives to minimize inventory through various operations such as “just- in- time” processing. There are many other tools, resources, and studies that help companies focus on their processes to becoming more efficient with less waste (2015, Enotes). Waste can be eliminated by producers setting their sights on perfection. According to our text, this looks like “no bad parts, no inventory, only value- added activities and no waste! Taiichi Ohno, who is known for his work with Toyota identified seven catagories of waste. They are as follows: OVERPRODUCTION: Producing more than the customer orders or producing early (before it is demanded) is waste. Inventory of any kind is usually a waste. QUEUES: Idle time, storage, and waiting are wastes (they add no value). TRANSPORATION: Moving material between plants or between work centers and handling more than once is waste. INVENTORY: Unnecessary raw material, work- in- progress (WIP), finished goods, and excess operating supplies add no value and are wastes. MOTION: Movement of equipment or people that adds no value is waste. OVERPROCESSING: Work performed on the product that adds no value is waste. DEFECTIVE PRODUCT: Returns, warranty Claims rework, and scrap are a waste. Most companies strive to become more efficient. Reducing waste is not only a great way to cut costs, but it just feels better to work for a company that is conscientious of their footprint on our planet. In our text we learned that companies have embellished upon a “housekeeping” checklist that helps create a good checklist for lean

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