Airborne Systems Canada What's New :: Lean Manufacturing & 5-S Information

Lean Manufacturing / 5-s Information

Lean Manufacturing

Lean Manufacturing is an initiative focused on eliminating all waste in manufacturing processes.

Lean production is aimed at the elimination of waste in every area of production including customer relations, product design, supplier networks and factory management. Its goal is to incorporate less human effort, less inventory, less time to develop products, and less space to become highly responsive to customer demand while producing top quality products in the most efficient and economical manner possible.

(Source: The Production System Design Laboratory (PSD), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) http://lean2.mit.edu)

The Principles of Lean Enterprise

Zero waiting time
Zero Inventory
Scheduling -- internal customer pull instead of push system
Batch to Flow -- cut batch sizes
Line Balancing
Cut actual process times.

5-S Program

The 5-S process features five steps whose aim is to organize a company’s activities in order to increase productivity, reduce waste, and create cost-savings. Airborne Systems Canada has performed this process in a number of departments such as manufacturing and shipping in order to meet their continual improvement goals.

Program Steps

SORT
"When in doubt, throw it out"

SET (in place)
"A place for everything and everything in its place"

SHINE
"A clean workplace enhances Quality, Safety & Pride"

STANDARDIZE
"Discipline for cleaning on a daily / shift basis must be established"

SUSTAIN
"Management must lead by example – Walk the Talk"

The emphasis in this program is on developing 5-S guidelines that will in turn lead to positive habits being formed.

Past 5-S initiatives have improved the following areas:
Stamping Area
Machine Shop
Office Supply Room
Stamping Area in Production

Before & After applying the 5S process in the Stamping Area

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