General Article

The Basics of Lean Certification

Lean certification is applied to manufacturing for the purpose of increasing output while cutting costs and lessening the overall impact on the environment. There are a number of individual building blocks that make up the lean certification philosophy. In order to be certified as a lean manufacturing individual, these basic building blocks must be learned and one must pass an exam to demonstrate an understand of these principles.

One of the first concepts associated with lean training is the Kaizen method of continuous improvement. The Kaizen method dates back to just after World War II. It was a practice that the Japanese developed for manufacturing. It literally means “change for the better”, and involves a process where all the employees are trained to spot possible inefficiencies and report them to a team leader, who is authorized to immediate put changes in place. The Kaizen method is incorporated into the lean manufacturing philosophy.

There is often a component labeled as “green” in the process. This refers to recognizing the amount of energy used in the manufacturing process and looking for ways to reduce energy usage. Energy is expensive, and in some cases, one of the most expensive costs of producing an item. Conserving is an integral part of this process. Being “green” also refers to containment of waste produced while producing an item. Waste reduction and management is a large part of the green consideration.

When one hears the word “cellular” one thinks of a hand-held communication device. In the context of lean technology, cellular refers to being modular, or creating cells of activity. By creating small cells of equipment and laborers, a company is in a more flexible position to respond to changes in demand. To increase demand, one can increase the number of cells quicker than making trying to upscale an entire manufacturing line. It takes less capital to build another cell, and cells are movable. That is, they can transported to different parts of the country to go where the demand is highest.

Other areas include learning change-over techniques. A change-over refers to using the same equipment to make a different piece of the product. By reducing change-over time, supply can increase quickly in response to demand.

Using the pull method of determining demand means that consumption is the key driver of measuring demand rather than forecasting. As sales increase, manufacturing supply is incrementally increased in proportion.

Finally, the goal of lean manufacturing is to involve every aspect of the company, rather than just the production line. Finance, management, and procurement are all included in the constant improvement process. This way, efficiencies are produced throughout the entire company structure, and costs are held down when demand goes up.…

The Ultimate Guide To Lean Enterprise

Lean manufacturing can be described as a practice that considers the expenditure of resources linked with any process of any particular organization. And if any step within the process fails to create value for the organization that becomes a target for elimination. Any organization that religiously follows the principles of lean manufacturing can be called as Lean enterprise. Manufacturing scenario has completely changed with the advent of lean thinking. With the advent of lean concept, the increase in the quality of the end products and the fall in cost of manufacturing products are quite visible. Lean enterprise is responsible for the manufacturing of top quality products at a great deal.

Some of the common characteristic of lean enterprise includes various factors. Those factors could be-

Primary focus on the customers- Whatever it be, the truth remains the same, you are designing the product for the customer and he is the one who is giving you profit by buying your services or products. It is of utmost important that you give value to your customer by taking care of his needs, wants and demands.

Appropriate alignment of the organization- The employees are the key people in the company. The smooth functioning of the company depends largely on its people. So, it is important that the people should know their purposes of being in the company apart from knowing just job description. All the people involved in a company directly, or indirectly should be well aware of the goals of the company.

Building trust- Trust building is of utmost importance. Yet, it is the toughest job to be executed as there are thousand options available for the consumers in the market. Yet, trust building is possible with constant effort.

Knowledge sharing- Probably knowledge is the only thing that increases with sharing. Moreover sharing knowledge also increases the chance that your company will start running well.

Questioning culture- Any office should not be a pin-drop-silence classroom. It is of immense importance that you build up an atmosphere of constant questioning. Constant questioning helps you reach the root of any problem.

Flexible manpower- If you are having manpower you have got all the strength in your hand. Manpower plays the most important part if you are really willing to give pace to your organization’s production. Flexible manpower is also required to give desired results in customer’s demand.

Visuals- Visuals are way more important than they appears. Visuals are not irregular and are driven by factual data’s. It actually helps in spotting the action that has not delivered as per the expectations at the earliest point and eliminate that at the earliest.

Continuous improvement- There is no full stop to development. If you wish to develop, there is always a scope for development. Continuous development is required to enhance the growth of the organization.

You cannot adopt lean thinking in your organization in a day. When you and your employees apply lean thinking from the grass root levels of the company throughout its journey from making the product till it reaches the consumers through the hands of suppliers and retailers, a perfect lean enterprise is formed.…

Streamlining Business Processes: Using ERP Software

In this age of technological prosperity, everyone demands for a fast and reliable solution for every possible problem that is likely to occur. This explains why even businesses are now relying on computers to manage their day to day business operations. If you’re a business owner needing a helping hand in your corporate responsibilities, then you may want to consider getting ERP software solutions.

ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning software is an integrated computer program that assists the streaming and distribution of scattered information across all the sectors of a business to enhance work flow. It streamlines work processes, shorten business process cycles, and increase user productivity. ERP software also provides the hierarchy of a business with a comprehensive outline of the complete transactions that took place. It can both store and recall information whenever users want.

When planning to purchase ERP software, you should select a system that is able to meet your company’s specific needs and your system’s capability of adapting to things that may change. However, choosing and implementing an ERP system can be overwhelming. This is why the services of an ERP consultant are invaluable. An ERP consultant can bring experience on the table and give professional advice on choosing the right software. He/she can easily assess your specific business needs and come up with a strategy to help you find the way through the corporate maze.

Once business needs are determined, it’s time to identify which features the ERP software needs to meet your requirements. For instance, if you’re a manufacturer of brass rods, it would be best to get ERP software for manufacturing. Set a budget for the purchase of the software and a timeline for implementation. This will help you prepare for the transition of streamlining processes and not have your employees face something they know nothing about.

After narrowing down your choices, contact ERP vendors who have ERPs that fit your requirements. Ask for a demo presentation to have an idea on how it can help your business. Inform the vendor of your needs so that they can address it during the presentation and highlight any problems that may come up.

ERP software can help you maintain continuous improvement. It might cost a bit of money, but all the expense is worth it. The purchase will certainly make one of the biggest improvements that your company will ever experience. You can browse the Internet for ERP software solutions that offer high-quality service and meet your demands.…

Could Small Scale Wood Pellet Manufacturing Help Revitalize the Forest Products Industry?

The forest products industry has taken a big hit with the slowdown in the economy. Without people building new homes there is a low demand for traditional forest products like lumber which had been devastating to many forest products industries. An exception to this is wood pellet manufacturing which has not only remained steady but the demand is rising.

Both firewood and pellets are unique when it comes to forest products in that they are a consumable product that consumers buy year after year. As the timber industry suffers from cutbacks and mill closures my own firewood business continues to thrive and grow. No matter what the economy is doing people still want to stay warm.

Pellets as a source of heat came onto the scene in the late 70’s but have been slow to compete with cheap and abundant electricity, oil and natural gas. Heating with pellets made a big hit with consumers but from time to time wood pellet manufacturing hasn’t been able to keep up with demand and there have been occasional problems with pellet shortages.

As fossil fuel prices rise and as consumers are looking for green alternatives and renewable sources of energy, pellets are starting to get more attention as an alternative source of energy. Because of this, demand for pellet manufacturing will likely continue to increase and be an opportunity for the forest products industry.

Pellet mill technology has been changing in recent years and there is a new trend of making smaller scale pellet mills. These lower production mills are becoming affordable for small production operations and even consumers to enter the wood pellet manufacturing market.

This opens up opportunity for small wood products businesses and small forest land owners and managers to manufacture and sell pellets. It also gives home owners the ability to manufacture their own pellets the way wood stove users can make their own firewood.…

Digging Into the Cost Details of Solar Panels

A huge investment as it is, buying solar panels need extra care and research. It is probably one of the best options to have your energy costs brought to its lowest but for that you’d need to spend some money too. The money required to be put into buying solar panels could be your savings that you were planning to spend on something else, but once you spend them, you’ll be paid back within a couple of years and if you have bought quality panels, you’d be free of energy costs for more than 20 years! And what’s more, for the efficient working of solar panels little maintenance is required.

For you to get the best possible price for solar panels, research a lot. There are many companies who have started manufacturing solar panels. What you need to do before contacting them is researching your own requirements. Research how much energy the panels produce and tally that energy with your bills. You’ll know what you want for how much energy. Contact the manufactures and get the best bid.

When getting the best bids, you need to do some backup study as to how much a solar panel would cost if it produced this amount of energy. Also, the high (or low) cost would include the warranty time, the payback time, the company producing it and certifications attached to it. Prepare to pay more for panels that produce double the energy you require. Once, the best price has been obtained, review them. Consider it your long-term review based on your short-term decision. Consider everything that would be at stake if you put in your savings in to it now. Also, be very sure about the fact that once you pay the company for the panels, with the proper use of these panels you can easily get back for what you paid for them in a few years. And after that it would be like living free (electricity-wise). So, make your decision wisely. You might as well be saving yourself and the environment.…

5S Management

Management is the art of managing, organizing, empowering, and watching gnats everything more efficient for a particular achievement. 5S management focused on setting up and implementation of 5S in a corporate environment, supported by all who are included in the company to achieve the level of organizational stability, productivity, quality and employee performance.

5S itself is the basic manufacturing activities that absolutely must be done by each company to improve productivity and efficiency in all lines of the company. 5S is not really a big job, which requires huge funds and resources, but the activities of individuals or groups regarding environmental management work for convenience in working. 5S has a tremendous impact for the creation of lean manufacturing that seeks to reduce waste in production processes.

5S activities consist of removing, organizing, cleaning, caring for and sustain all the activities in the work. Although the basic habits of each worker, but requires an integrated management and involve all components of the company’s bottom up to top level managers.

The main objective is to create conditions 5S Management that is stable and effective in every activity, while also presenting a quality product, customer satisfaction and increased work productivity.

To achieve these objectives should be done in managing the 5S system are:

1. Integrated involving all lines of production and all sections within the company, from handling raw materials, production processes and delivery to the customer.

2. Sustainable, which means not only campaigned when there is an audit or visitors, but has been organized and made a habit in the manufacturing environment.

3. Train and Train, The work done has never tired of continuing training to all people and all times by conducting trainings are scheduled well, to make a positive habit to consciously 5S

4. Give each other examples. Implementation of 5S is not only the operator’s president of production alone but must also give examples of the implementation of 5S.

These 5S management techniques every company will vary and adjust the company’s existing resources, but the core of the 5S management are the same. For example there is a company that focuses on the implementation of briefings each morning to remind every worker in every early work. There is a company that focuses on standardization clear and easily understood, there is also emphasis on the auditing system and scheduled routine and so forth.

5s Management which will both contribute significantly to the implementation of lean manufacturing…

Italy’s Manufacturing Industry

Even though people nowadays associate Asian countries like China to be the major manufacturing industry hubs, and many industries have set up factories there, Italy’s manufacturing industry has held its own and receives a great deal of investment. People tend to overlook locations like Italy, but Italy is highly trusted for fashion, leather and other products. Light manufacturing, as well as some heavy manufacturing industries like cars, contribute a great deal to the Italian economy.

The liberal business policies of the Italian government often favor industrial investment, and this has aided the growth of Italy’s light manufacturing industry. This manufacturing industry concentrates on products such as eye wear, leather goods and textiles. The products manufactured in this sector form a major part of Italian exports. Most of the Italy’s light manufacturing industries center around small or medium-sized firms although there are some larger companies too. These industries provide mostly luxury goods for quality niche markets and have a great reputation. Germany, France and Spain are some of the major buyers of these Italian products. Major buyers outside the EU include the US and Japan, but EU countries are the biggest market.

The Italian textile and clothing industries are some of the biggest suppliers of high-quality, textile products. Some people follow these brands like religions, and they are exported to all corners of the world. From casual to designer wear, these products are in demand on the world market.

Italy’s automotive industry too is really famous for its brands to include Fiat, Ferrari, Maserati Lamborghini, and Lancia. These brands are world renowned for being powerful yet stylish. The machine parts for the automotive industry are also a major part of Italy’s manufacturing industry.

Its food processing industry has famous brands to such as Barilla, Parmalat, and Nestle, and these contribute significantly to Italy’s GDP. Chocolate, pasta, sausages, cheese and ham are some of the products whose quality is unmatched in the world. Many of them are in high demand internationally and exported to foreign markets.

This is by no means an exhaustive listing of Italian manufacturing but offers an idea of what Italian industry is about.…