Feature ‘Ask the expert’
Visual workplaces give growing businesses a competitive edge
Brady’s Liz Gallagher suggests that taking a close look right now at your production environment and processes will pay dividends as the recovery strengthens
utting waste is always impor- tant, but as business starts to look up and order books grow, those who keep their eye on the waste ball can gain a real competitive edge. Using visual solutions in the workplace will help them deliver more consistently to customers and cope better with supply chain and resourcing issues as they emerge. Firms who study their workplace processes are often surprised to find that much of what they do delivers little extra value to their customers. In many cases, up to 50 per cent or more of a facility’s activities are non-pro- ductive. This waste takes many forms. For example, much valuable time can be lost in searching, waiting, retriev- ing, re-working, querying, puzzling or simply forgetting. The Visual Workplace, also known as the Visual Factory or Visual Management, is a strategic tool for tackling such problems, designed to ensure the right information is in the right place at the right time. Dr Gwendolyn Galsworth of the QMI\Visual-Lean Institute has defined it as “….a work environment that is self-ordering, self-explaining, self-reg- ulating and self-improving – where what is supposed to happen does happen, on time, every time, because of visual solutions.” You may wish to develop visual solutions as an integral part of a wider or existing lean initiative, such as Standard Work, Total Productive Maintenance or ‘5S’ Workplace Management (Sort, Shine, Set in Order, Standardise and Sustain). But for many businesses, the visual approach can simply be a good jumping off point for an effective waste reduction pro- gramme offering quick returns. Either way, here at Brady we have identified some practical examples to help set you thinking about how you can use visual solutions: • Keeping everything in its allotted place by the use of location identifiers for tools, parts, materials, product and equipment. The benefits include reduced inventory, better use of space,
C Factory Equipment MAY 2011
greater productivity and less opera- tional disruption.
• Displaying technical and procedural information at the point of use (such as operating, inspection and mainte- nance instructions). This can reduce cycle times, improve quality/reliabil- ity, enhance safety and simplify train- ing and scheduling. • Making well-planned use of labelling for operator controls, inspec- tion and service intervals, hazard
Tools such as Kanban cards, inventory labels, equipment ID and replenishment indicators give control of production flow
Make use of labelling for warnings to aid proper equipment usage, prevent operator errors, and detect operating
abnormalities
effective control of production flows - leading to shorter lead times, reduced inventory levels, faster trouble-shoot- ing and better on-time delivery. • Using high quality workplace dis- plays for a well-informed, motivated workforce, by helping to promote key initiatives, track progress and recog- nise team effort and achievements. • Using equipment, hazard and chemi- cal labels, floor markings, lock-out and accident prevention tags and warning signs to promote safe systems of work, maintain employee morale, reduce accidents and compensation claims, improve regulatory compliance and cut downtime.
warnings and gauge indicators. This can result in faster change-overs, fewer operator errors, proper equipment usage, easily-detected operating abnor- malities, and simplified maintenance. • Applying tools such as Kanban cards, inventory labels, equipment ID and replenishment indicators to give
Keep everything in its allotted place by using location identifiers
Pro-active management of the visual workplace requires specialist expertise, careful planning and the right equip- ment and materials. Businesses seldom have the in-house capacity for this, and so need a reliable partner to provide the confidence, professional technical sup- port and aftercare essential to success. At Brady we can offer a complete package that makes us the ideal part- ner for large and small firms alike. Our experienced product experts, steeped in ‘Lean’ principles, can offer practical advice and solutions tailored to your needs – before, during and after implementation. We supply an extensive range of portable and work- bench printers, together with a vast range of materials for every operating environment. For example, our new BBP31 is the very latest in portable thermal transfer printing technology with a rugged design that slots easily into any workplace. Products and ser- vices like these can put thousands of highly competitive and cost-effective visual solutions at the fingertips of every organisation. As the recovery strengthens, this can deliver a compet- itive advantage for your business.
Brady T: 01295 228288
www.bradyeurope.com Enter 303 9
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