Assembly Productivity Rate Improvements

[Kevin Mader]

Greg,

Isn’t Jidoka the Japanese term used to express the idea of giving your machine artificial human intelligence in attempting to prevent the production of a defect, such as a sewing machine stopping when the thread runs out or breaks?

At any rate, your suggestion regarding Kaizen is a very good one!

Regards,

Kevin

 

[energy]

Where you beez?

Kevin,

Nothing to contribute to this excellent thread. Just expressing satisfaction that you are back from steaming opening your mail. Just a little CT humor. Got a 26" Salmon out of the Naugy Sat.
While this may be moved to an appropriate site, you can do it because you are "bold" and "italicized", I thought it would be a good time to "TAKE A BREAK". Don't you just love this Icon? Later Guru

 

[trailwalker]

I have noticed the focus here is on the number, the productivity rate. A better means of measurement. Maybe the productivity rate is not what needs to be measured. Sometimes the complex relationship of the variables in the process create greater variation. Perhaps the focus of the continual improvement program could be on the dominant variables in the process.

I feel that production rates are only a snapshot of a process at a particular point in time. I have seen production rates adjusted, tampered with. If the rate is the ultimate goal, use a control chart to plot the productivity over a time period. This may help generate a "better" number.

Also consider forgetting about production rates. How about a production system that mirrors living organisms? Take a look at "Profit Beyond Measure" by H. Thomas Johnson & Anders Broms.

 

[Chris May]

Bob,

It sounds like you need some good old fashioned Industrial Engineering input such as Time Study/Method Study/Work Measurement.

Before you do this however, you also need an understanding of "rating". This will let you identify the rating (speed) of all operators.

You need to break the operation down into small elements and using a decimal-minute stopwatch, you time each element and apply the rating of the operator.

There is a lot to go into, too much for one posting.
If you do not have anyone skilled in this discipline or no-one else points you at a website (I do not know of one), feel free to e-mail me direct and I will be only to willing to elaborate.

Regards,

chris

 

[WALLACE]

Profit beyond measure.

Trailwalker quoted

Also consider forgetting about production rates. How about a production system that mirrors living organisms? Take a look at "Profit Beyond Measure" by H. Thomas Johnson & Anders Broms.

OH YES, This book has quite simply transformed my thinking regarding systems thinking, Thanks for the book Kevin, I would be pleased to make comment's if you are interested in reviewing the book in the books section Kevin?

Wallace.