Alliant Energy Lean Six Sigma Improve Productivity and Control Costs

Alliant reports respectable quarterly earnings which are bolstered by Lean Six Sigma efforts that are making the company more productive and helping it to manage costs more effectively. ...

... "The modest decrease at the utilities is primarily due to the impacts of the June 2008 Midwest flooding, which are partially offset by the recent settlement with the IRS on U.S. federal income tax audits of prior years and the benefits of our lean six sigma activities on improving productivity and controlling utility operating costs. " ...

Via Alliant Energy: Quarterly Earnings Report PDF

CNC Cycle Time Reduction

Lean Six Sigma Measurement Drives Improvements

Lean Six Sigma uses measurement systems to drive tangible results. Are the intangibles ignored by these methodologies? The numbers should be a guid, but common sense must rule. ...

... "When companies start paying attention to these things they can realize a huge improvement in productivity and profitability. And recent research tells us that efforts like Lean Six Sigma are certainly needed. " ...

Via Management Issues: Low-carb Lean Six Sigma?

Lear Lean Manufacturing Implementation Drives Operational Efficiency Gains

Lear Corporation's lean manufacturing processes have driven productivity and operational efficiency for the company. Lear's lean implementation concentrates on the work environment, quality, the layout, and the flow of materials. ...

... "Tony Coomer, the company's vice president of Advanced Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement-Seating Systems, said lean manufacturing techniques have been deployed throughout the company's global manufacturing network.

Lear employees are trained on LMS during a three-week workshop. The training is conducted at all Lear plants by a lean manufacturing leader and employees receive LMS certification upon successful understanding of LMS principles and validation of model line projects which deploy LMS.

Product design is another key element in Lear's Lean Manufacturing System. Product design teams rely on LMS principles to ensure products can be manufactured in a lean environment. Approximately two thirds of product costs are locked into the initial design of the product, Coomer noted, so any effort to reduce cost after the initial design stage can only influence the remaining one third of the product's overall cost. At one facility, for example, product design teams incorporating design for lean principles in a model year change realigned workstations, changed production flows and made other assembly line changes to boost productivity.

Plant layout also plays an important role in Lear's approach to lean manufacturing. Lear uses Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to understand work flow and identify waste. In addition, extended VSM allows Lear to eliminate waste from the entire value stream -- from supplier to customer. VSM encompasses items such as freight costs, inventory controls and production changes. " ...

Via Lear Corp: Lean Manufacturing System Hikes Productivity and Reduces Costs

Lean Labor Productivity

Local officials evaluate lean methods ...

... "Combining Lean and Six Sigma which generates long term change is designed to incorporate the best of both methodologies. " ...

Via Cumberland Times: Celebrate Work and Productivity

Airbus Lean Productivity Increase Planned

Airbus expects lean program to pay productivity dividends. ...

... "a productivity increase of 16% by 2010 through use of Lean manufacturing; and a reduction in the supplier cost base and the number of logistics centres from 80 to eight through smart buying. " ...

Via Flight Global: Airbus