Category: Productivity

RoHS compliant solder

RoHS-compliant solder refers to solder that meets the requirements of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive in the European Union. This directive restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, including lead, cadmium, mercury, and others. In practice, this often translates to using lead-free solder because lead is one of […]

Standardized work

Standardized work, often used in Lean Manufacturing, means documenting and defining the best, safest, and most efficient way to perform a specific task. It establishes a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a job, ensuring consistency, quality, and efficiency across an organization. This involves detailing the steps, sequence, timing, and resources needed to complete […]

Just In Time

“Just-in-time” (JIT) is a production management philosophy and a system where goods are produced or delivered only when they are needed, minimizing waste and improving efficiency. It’s about aligning production with demand, ensuring materials and goods are available precisely when needed, rather than stockpiling them. Here’s a more detailed explanation: Key aspects of Just-in-Time: Production: […]

Production Idle Zero

“Production Idle Zero” refers to a state where a production system, process, or machine is not actively engaged in producing goods or services. It signifies a period of inactivity, downtime, or a lack of utilization of resources, resulting in zero output. Here’s a more detailed explanation: In a manufacturing context: Down time: Machines or production […]

Control Plan

A control plan is a document that outlines the specific actions and methods used to monitor and maintain the quality of a process or product. It’s essentially a roadmap for ensuring consistent performance and identifying deviations from established standards. Control plans are crucial for stabilizing processes and achieving desired outcomes. Here’s a more detailed breakdown: […]

Kanban system

Kanban is a Japanese word that directly translates to “visual card,” so the kanban system simply means to use visual cues to prompt the action needed to keep a process flowing. a Japanese manufacturing system in which the supply of components is regulated through the use of an instruction card sent along the production line.

Jidoka

Jidoka, a Japanese term, translates to “autonomation” or “automation with a human touch,” and is a key concept in the Toyota Production System (TPS). It emphasizes empowering machines to detect errors or defects and stop automatically to prevent further issues and ensure quality. Here’s a more detailed explanation: Core Principles of Jidoka: Automatic Stop: Machines […]

Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing is a systematic approach to maximizing customer value while minimizing waste in all aspects of a production process. It focuses on identifying and eliminating non-value-adding activities to optimize processes, reduce lead times, lower costs, and improve product quality. Here’s a more detailed explanation: Core Principles: Define Value: Identify what customers are willing to […]

Horenso

In Japanese business culture, “Horenso” (報・連・相) is an acronym for Report, Contact, and Consult. It’s a communication system that emphasizes keeping superiors and colleagues informed about work progress, updates, and seeking advice when necessary. Here’s a more detailed breakdown: Hōkoku (報告): Report – This involves regularly informing superiors and relevant parties about work progress, issues, […]

ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard for quality management systems (QMS). It provides a framework for organizations to improve their performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate their commitment to quality. The standard outlines requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a QMS, helping organizations consistently deliver products and services that meet customer and […]