Lean is a business system for organizing and managing operations, suppliers and customer relations. Manufacturers and other organizations use Lean principles, practices and tools to create customer value-goods and services with higher quality and fewer defects-with less human effort, less space, less capital and in less time than the traditional system of batch and queue/mass production.

Lean enables organizations to become customer focused, value-based and resource efficient - essential in today's global economy.

CONNSTEP's Lean Consultants will help you:

	Map the flow of information and materials to help teams make immediate improvements in quality, delivery and work-flow;
	Use the tools of Lean, including standard work, 6S, cellular design, takt time, total productive maintenance, point-of-use storage and visual controls, to create flow in your manufacturing operations, meeting customer demands on-time, every time; and
	Develop a team based culture of continuous improvement across the organization ensuring long-term sustainability.

LEAN MANUFACTURING

Lean Manufacturing is the application of principles and tools to optimize your manufacturing operations and meet the demand of your customers while increasing your profitability. Non-value added or wasteful practices can lead to overproduction, excess inventory, defects, underutilized people, excess processing, motion and transportation.

Lean Manufacturing's benefits include the reduction/elimination of waste, fewer defects, shorter lead times, increased manufacturing capacity, lower production cos ts, inventory reduction, increased on-time delivery and improved customer satisfaction.

 

LEAN OFFICE

The same Lean principles and tools utilized in manufacturing operations can be applied in the office or administrative processes. Office wastes can manifest in excess paperwork, redundant approvals, inefficient work area design/layout, incomplete or inaccurate information and complex tracking systems.

Accurate estimating, efficient order handling and responsive customer service help to protect your profits, maintain your reputation and keep you competitive. 

Additional information on Lean Solutions can be found here .   

 

TWI:  TRAINING WITHIN INDUSTRY

TWI Job Instruction
Job Instruction (JI) teaches companies how to standardize methods, reduce employee errors and shorten the training interval for new or transferred employees.  JI is a critical component in any continuous improvement program to ensure the sustainability of productivity gains. 

As Connecticut's only certified TWI program provider, CONNSTEP coaches your organization in JI through an on-site workshop.  Supervisors learn to systematically approach every work activity:  breaking down the processes, sweating the details and constantly striving to embed Lean principles deeper into your processes so that your organization can sustain improvements.

TWI JI dramatically leverages your training dollars - the retention rate for employees taught using this method is significanty higher than with traditional on the job training.  The result is substantially higher employee productivity realized in a substantially shorter time frame.

Additional information on TWI Job Instruction can be found here. 

   

 

The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence
The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence recognizes business excellence in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was established to create increased awareness, development, and implementation of Lean Manufacturing principles and techniques.

The goal of the Prize is to make manufacturing facilities and other industries more competitive in the global marketplace, illustrating how world-class results can be achieved through the implementation of Lean principles and techniques in core manufacturing and other business processes.

CONNSTEP is the Connecticut affiliate and point of contact for Connecticut companies interested in learning about or applying for the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence.  More information on the Prize can be found here or call 800.266.6672.

Congratulations to HID Global of North Haven - a 2008 Shingo Prize Bronze Medallion recipient! 

In 2007, three Connecticut companies received recognition from the Shingo Prize:

  HID Global of North Haven, recipient of the 2007 Connecticut Gold Shingo Prize
  ASML of Wilton, recipient of the 2007 Connecticut Bronze Shingo Prize
  GyrusACMI, recpient of the 2007 Connecticut Bronze Shingo Prize

Click on the company name to view their Shingo Prize video.