First developed by Toyota, the practice of lean manufacturing became very popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. As manufacturers around the world adopted this practice, they experienced benefits including reduced lead times, reduced operating costs, and improved product quality. In our current economy the lean method has had a transformation to ensure every supplier and customers’ needs are being met globally.
Customizable Needs-Based Supply Chain
At Nortech, we are always analyzing our supply chain and how we innovate, along with the full spectrum of our services. This includes how to deliver better fulfillment and a greater quantity of supplies to our valued customers. The key is to create a customizable supply chain based on customers’ needs. With more involvement from customers, suppliers and supplier partners, we can ensure alignment and focus toward one common goal.
To protect our customers, we place safe gaps in between key stakeholders for consistency and continuity in our global supply chain.
Lean Manufacturing Has Evolved
Automation has created more efficiency and accuracy. Because of this, workers can focus on more tasks that add value. There has been a notable shift toward a customer-centric approach focused on quality, flexibility and speed. Plus, the implementation of new technologies like big data and artificial intelligence has further facilitated the improvement of lean manufacturing processes and the identification of new opportunities for optimization.
The implementation of lean practice begins with the actions that directly and indirectly create value for the customer. Nortech employees are trained in lean manufacturing processes to eliminate waste from the value stream. Because we train lean, it increases our capacity and on-time delivery.
5 Rotational Steps of Lean Principles
- Specify the value desired by the customer.
- Identify the value stream for each product providing that value and challenge all of the wasted steps (generally nine out of ten) currently necessary to provide it.
- Make the product flow continuously through the remaining value-added steps.
- Introduce pull between all steps where continuous flow is impossible.
- Manage toward perfection so that the number of steps and the amount of time and information needed to serve customers continually falls.
Through ongoing testing, our employees continually learn and innovate for better quality and flow, less time and effort, and lower waste. Tools such as vision and sensor systems are increasingly helpful in the lean process. For example, multi-function cables, such as the hybrid models developed by Nortech Systems help streamline solutions with enhanced power delivery.
Manufacturing With a Moral Compass
Lean manufacturing progresses is about respect for the humanity of customers, employees, suppliers, investors and our communities with the belief that all can and will be better off through lean practices.
By reducing anything that doesn’t create value in a product, meaning waste, lean manufacturing seeks to increase or add product value for the customer. The 7 common types of waste are:
- Unnecessary transportation
- Excess inventory
- Unnecessary motion of people, equipment, or machinery
- Waiting, whether it’s people or idle equipment
- Over-production of a product
- Over-processing or putting more time into a product than a customer needs, such as designs that require high-tech machinery for unnecessary features
- Defects, which require effort and cost for corrections
Nortech is devoted to providing exceptional value to our customers with continuous improvement and efficiency. We strive to minimize waste and maximize service without the need of coordinating multiple vendors. Our unmatched commitment to quality and timely delivery is manifested in our lean plan that encompasses cross-training for our production associates, ensuring success for every employee. With this commitment we guarantee that orders will be placed and fulfilled based on our customers’ desired dates. Nortech continues to make significant progress in automating our factory floors and enhance quality for every customer.
Do you need a partner in lean manufacturing. Contact Nortech now to get started!