Lean Process Mobility for the Shop-Floor

Lean business processes integrated with mobility offer efficiencies on the shop floor for manufacturers. ...

... "While thousands of companies have used the tools of Lean such as Value Stream Mapping to re-engineer business process, rarely did those analyses well-consider the possibilities of mobile, connected workers. " ...

Via Supply Chain Digest: Mobility

Lean Dentistry

Local dentist uses lean techniques to streamline his office processes, delighting customers, and achieving recognition by the Shingo Prize. ...

... "For the dental office, this means small things - like arranging sterilization areas in a way that minimizes steps - as well as large things. One of the biggest differences at Bahri's office, for example, is that patients don't move from room to room or have to deal with multiple appointments ... " ...

Via Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville: Business Lean Success Story

Lean MES Manufacturing Execution Software Makes Inventory Visible

Manuvis introduces software version that integrates real-time inventory visibility and production metrics in dynamic operational dashbboard. The data visualization supports value stream mapping, queue performance monitoring, and asset utilization. ...

... "Whereas most manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) solutions focus on production machine output, few offer inventory visibility. Manuvis' FactoryMRI, built on lean manufacturing principles, offers superior analytical tools that simplify information exchange within an enterprise and provides a common way to help synchronize enterprise assets. These tools help eliminate waste and increase profits, whether uncovering process variations that cause quality defects, identifying sources of waste and helping find untapped capacity. And since data is obtained directly from production machines, total cost of ownership is reduced by eliminating the need for human data entry into PC's or operate bar code equipment. " ...

Via Manuvis: Real-Time Lean Manufacturing Capabilities

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 Through The Value Stream

Lean is not just relegated to the plant floor. ...

... "If you're going to consistently beat your competition to market on this newly expanded, worldwide playing field you've got to spread Lean throughout your entire value stream. " ...

Via InformationWeek: Infor on Lean Supply Chain

iGrafx Software For Six Sigma Business Process Improvement

iGrafx releases 2007 version of its solutions for process excellence, that enhances modeling, simulation, mapping, and Lean Six Sigma support. ...

... "Improved Lean and Six Sigma Support: iGrafx 2007 offers great new features for Lean users including the ability to create Extended Value Stream Maps to obtain a lean view that crosses plant, divisional, and company boundaries. Six Sigma enthusiasts, on the other hand, will use the new Prioritization and Failure Mode Spreadsheets to spotlight improvement opportunities and mitigate failure mode effects faster. Users will also be able to define and scope Six Sigma projects, and identify progress towards process goals with the use of iGrafx Process Central repository. " ...

Via iGrafx: iGrafx 2007 Product Suite Enables Enterprise Business Process Improvement

Value Stream Map Workshop

Pelion offers one-day value stream mapping workshops ...

... "Initial one-day workshops will be led by Pelion's Chief Technology Officer Dave Gleditsch, a 30-year manufacturing industry veteran who has driven some of the world's most successful Lean transformation programs. The course is conducted in a teach & do format where students will learn in class how to create Value Stream Maps of both current and future states considering product flow strategies and customer value as the compelling drivers. Appropriate Lean Manufacturing principles will be used along the way as students work to define the current state, identify wastes and opportunities and discuss how Lean tools can be applied to create a Future State Map with an improvement plan. " ...

Via Pelion Systems: Value Stream Mapping: Beyond Whiteboards Workshop

Six Sigma Mission Excellence

Mission excellence will be based on a foundation of Six Sigma in this new organizational model. ...

... "Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed Sonya Sepahban to lead the newly created Mission Excellence organization at its Space Technology sector. The organization combines Six Sigma, Safety & Mission Assurance, and Chief Engineer functions into one organization. Sepahban will be responsible for advancing the maturity and performance of the sector's processes, increasing the cross-functional focus on production reliability and quality, and the focus on customer deliverable products. The new organization will emphasize collaboration across the value stream to ensure mission success with stable, predictable processes to ensure flawless execution. " ...

Via Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman Assigns Sonya Sepahban to Lead Space Technology Sector's New Mission Excellence Organization

Value Stream Mapping Workshop: Lean Manufacturing Principles ...

... "A lean manufacturing workshop, Value Stream Mapping & Lean Manufacturing Principles, will be held from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at The Center at Purdue University Calumet. Cost is $125 per participant and includes continental breakfast and lunch buffet. " ...

Value Stream Mapping Workshop: Lean Manufacturing Principles: Via Northwest Indiana News: Business Calendar ...

Six Sigma Flowchart Software ...

BreezeTree Software releases FlowBreeze 1.0, a flowcharting software add-in for Microsoft Excel, which should be a useful product for flowcharting Six Sigma business processes. ...

... "The product marks the launch of the first in a series of flowcharting, process mapping and value stream mapping tools that BreezeTree Software will release in the coming year. The products will be targeted at professionals in the ISO 9000, Six Sigma, and Lean markets. " ...

Six Sigma Flowchart Software: Via BreezeTree: BreezeTree Software Announces the Release of FlowBreeze Flowcharting Software: BreezeTree Software Launches FlowBreeze 1.0, an Innovative Flowcharting Tool for Microsoft Office Users ...

SixSigma Master Black Belt Position Available: Quality Improvement Career ...

Position is available for a master black belt in Six Sigma ...

... "MASTER BLACK BELT: Lead the Six Sigma Program. Develop and conduct training plans; serve as the Six Sigma technical expert; maintain Six Sigma tool application and methodology integrity; benchmark Six Sigma best practices; ensure that projects are adequately scoped, assigned, and implemented; allocate GB and BB resources. LEAN EXPERT: Lead cross-functional teams to implement Lean solutions; contribute to the identification and prioritization of Lean opportunities; lead the analysis of root cause solutions; support the implementation of Lean metrics across sites; support the identification and documentation of best practices; support the development of training for value stream mapping and Lean Sigma tools. " ...

SixSigma Master Black Belt Position Available: Quality Improvement Career: Steelscape: Via The Daily News Online

Kaizen Blitz: Improvement Technique ...

Business, everywhere, can benefit from continuous improvement. Products, processes, and people can improve quality. Fred Fishman, Manager Strategic Procurement Programs, explores the techniques of continuous improvement, such as recognizing the opportunity and seeking assistance. ...

... "Whether portrayed in a formula-rich analysis during a Six Sigma event, the rapid fire and instinctive physical changes implemented during a kaizen blitz, the reduction of muda (Japanese term for waste) in the lean journey, or the methodical development of a value stream map to visually identify value-added vs. non-value-added steps in a flow of work, each technique employs some variation of mathematical, statistical or visual analysis to achieve the desired result - improvement. " ...

Kaizen Blitz: Improvement Technique: Via Reliable Plant Magazine: The importance of Continuous Process Improvement ...

Value Stream Mapping Seminar This Week ...

... "The Michiana Chapter of APICS, the Association for Operations Management, will meet Tuesday at the Upper Deck, Coveleski Stadium. Bob Montgomery, CPIM, will speak on Value Stream Mapping. " ...

Value Stream Mapping Seminar This Week: Via South Bend Tribune: Business Meetings and Seminars ...

Kaizen Event: 5S Implementation ...

Kaizen 5S process at Stevens Industries reduced cycle times, travel distance, and space requirements, while increasing the production capacity. ...

Kaizen Event: 5S Implementation: Via NIST: Stevens Industries International, Inc.: MEP Providing Hands-On Help through Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership ...

... "Florida MEP worked with Stevens' management team in introducing the principles of lean manufacturing to key employees by presenting a TimeWise Lean 101 workshop thereby providing all team members with the knowledge and necessary tools to advance to the next stage of lean transformation. Stevens then moved on with a Computerized Process Model of their counter top shop in Fort Meyers to evaluate the process in their counter top facility. A value stream map was then created for the Cabinet Manufacturing line, which resulted in a Kaizen event and a 5S-implementation process. The Stevens' Lean Team implemented the basics of lean (5S's, standardized work, quality at the source, pull/kanban systems). " ...

Kaizen Events: 5S of Raw Material and Shipping Process

MEP supported the implementation of multiple Kaizen events on the raw material process and shipping area for Cedarworks. First pass yield was increased, cycle time was reduced, and space was increased through operational efficiencies gain through kaizen. ...

Kaizen Events: 5S of Raw Material and Shipping Process: Via NIST: Cedarworks: Assistance to Cedarworks ...

... "Cedarworks' 45 employees participated in Maine MEP's Timewise Lean 101 in order for all to understand the concepts behind Lean Manufacturing. A Value Stream Map of the manufacturing process from product receipt to wrapping for shipment was conducted, as well as a Value Stream Map of the Sales and Customer Service processes. Two Kaizen events were conducted as a result of the Value Stream Map process. One Kaizen event was a 5S of the raw material grading area and the other was a 5S of the shipping area. The Value Stream Map revealed a huge problem with the raw material being received and a problem with the flow of the material in the grading area. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Seminar Series: California ...

EMS will provide lean manufacturing seminars in California starting in early 2006. ...

Lean Manufacturing Seminar Series: California: Via EMS Consulting: EMS Consulting Group Announces a Series of Lean Manufacturing Seminars and Workshops in Southern California

... "EMS Consulting Group, Inc. has announced a public Lean Manufacturing certificate program beginning in February 2006 in Orange County, CA. The program will assist manufacturers with the challenge of implementing lean and maintaining continuous improvements. It includes a series of eight course modules designed to provide participants with targeted managerial and technical competencies in lean manufacturing. Participants will learn how to apply the key techniques of lean manufacturing: Value Stream Mapping, Lean Production Control and Inventory Management, One-Piece Flow, Cellular Manufacturing, Material Flow and Kanban, Five S, and Kaizen Events and tools. Lean Certification also includes the completion of lean manufacturing projects at attendee companies to reinforce the classroom learning.

The program will take place at the Doubletree Club Hotel Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, CA in eight Thursday sessions. The dates are February 2, 23; March 9, 23; April 6, 20; and May 4, 18. The sessions will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. " ...

Lean Manufacturing: Visual Map ...

The value stream map can be used to design a vision for the future manufacturing process and enable a collborative environment on the shop floor ...

Via TMAC: Value Stream Mapping ...

... "Visually describes the flow of material and information through a manufacturer's entire production systems. This allows for better understanding of the complete process. By graphically portraying the process, one is able to see exactly where value is added and value is lost. " ...

Lean Waste Elimination Program ...

Lean Waste Elimination Program: Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet: History and Background of NAVRIIP and AIRSpeed ...

... "Lean: A focus on the removal of waste, which is defined as anything not necessary (no value added) to produce the product or service. Lean is a process improvement strategy that facilitates an organization's ability to make everything, everyday in the exact quantity required, with no defects. The goal is to achieve perfection through the total elimination of waste in the value stream. Lean uses incremental improvement to constantly expose waste to balance operational and standard workflows. Most notable examples are the supply chains established by Toyota and Honda. " ...

Lean Value Stream Mapping ...

Lean Value Stream Mapping: SEPO Upcoming Events

... "Lean (originally, Lean Manufacturing) is focused on eliminating waste and non value added activity throughout the value stream in order to reduce cycle time, cost, and variance. Value stream mapping is following a product or service from beginning to end and drawing a visual representation of every process in the material and information flow for the current state to understand how things currently operate (our baseline). Next, create a future state mapping of how value should flow (our vision). The assumption is that you can get better results from average people using brilliant processes than from brilliant people using broken processes. " ...

Innovative Use Lean Processes ...

Innovative Lean Processes ...

... "Multiple methods are used to identify, evaluate and implement process improvements within the current process method context. Each process owner is responsible for maintaining and improving processes based on the organization's business goals and project requirements. ACS has implemented and additional approach to process improvement to supplement and enhance the existing process by applying Lean principles. Process improvements are identifies and prioritized on customer value through a method called value stream analysis. " ...

Lean Initiative: Five Basics of Lean Thinking ...

Lean Initiative

... "The lean philosophy employs five basic principles of lean thinking: (1) specify value from the perspective of the end customer, (2) identify the value stream for each product, (3) create continuous flow of the product, (4) let the customer pull the product and (5) strive for perfection. Lean is intended to attack muda (Japanese for waste) and give customers exactly what they want, when they want it and perform tasks more and more effectively. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Certification Program ...

EMS Consulting Group, Inc. Announces Lean Manufacturing Certification Program in San Diego

... "EMS Consulting Group, Inc. has just announced a public Lean Manufacturing certificate program for this fall in North San Diego County. The program will assist manufacturers with the challenge of implementing lean and maintaining continuous improvements. It includes a series of six course modules designed to provide participants with targeted managerial and technical competencies in lean manufacturing. Participants will learn how to apply the key techniques of lean manufacturing: Value Stream Mapping, Lean Production Control and Inventory Management, One-Piece Flow, Cellular Manufacturing, Material Flow and Kanban, Five S, and Kaizen Events and tools. Lean Certification also includes the completion of lean manufacturing projects at attendee companies to reinforce the classroom learning. The program will take place at the Grand Pacific Palisades Hotel in Carlsbad, CA in seven Wednesday sessions. The dates are September 7, 21; October 5, 19; November 2, 16, 30. The sessions will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. These training sessions may also be taken separately. To register or obtain additional information, visit www.lean-manufacturing-training.com and view the public workshop schedule. " ...

Lean Process Transformation ...

U.S. Department of Defense Transformation Story - Understanding the Lean Process

... "To understand the Lean process, you must be able to recognize a value stream, define Six Sigma and Theory of Constraint. To define a value stream you must know that it includes all the steps (both value added and non-value added) in a process that the customer is willing to pay for in order to bring a product, or service through the main flow essential to producing that product or service. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Techniques: Produce Positive Results ...

Plunge into Lean Manufacturing Helps Pelican Wire Increase Sales, Add Staff: Incorporating Lean Techniques Results in Six Figure Savings and Sales for Naples Company ...

... "To help identify areas to make changes and provide the necessary training to produce positive results, Pelican Wire called on the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Florida MEP) to help implement Lean Manufacturing techniques. Lean Manufacturing is an implementation technique that utilizes simple but effective methods to identify and reduce waste, and inventories, clear shop floors and streamline production processes all with a goal of decreasing costs and increasing productivity. Working with staff and management, David Ferguson and Jerry Nelligan, project managers for the Florida MEP, started with a Value Stream Map which literally mapped the flow of work through beginning to end of production line of a product for one of Pelican's main customers. " ...

The Florida MEP is an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The national MEP is a network of manufacturing extension centers that provide business and technical assistance to smaller manufacturers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Through MEP, manufacturers have access to more than 2000 manufacturing and business “coaches” whose job is to help firms make changes that lead to greater productivity, increased profits, and enhanced global competitiveness. For more information on the Florida MEP program call 321-939-4000.

Microsoft Supports Lean Manufacturing Software Capability in Automotive Industry ...

Microsoft Drives Insight and Innovation for the Automotive Community With Peak Performance Initiative

... "At the Microsoft Global Automotive Summit,Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates teamed with Microsoft Corp.'s automotive team in announcing the Peak Performance Initiative, designed to help the automotive community accelerate insight through advanced analysis services, drive innovation through collaboration, and improve performance via increased visibility into operations across the automotive supply chain. ... Automotive OEMs and suppliers are under tremendous pressures to improve performance in a highly competitive, cost-sensitive environment. To succeed, these companies are looking for solutions that cut across and integrate the entire value stream. In support of Microsoft's Peak Performance Initiative, we are coupling Microsoft technology with Avanade's holistic enterprise expertise to meet the challenges of the automotive industry. Avanade's solutions enable collaborative product design, demand-driven lean manufacturing and supply management, global sourcing, and global operations management. " ...

-- Michael Merfeld, Solution Director, Microsoft Business Solutions, Avanade

Microsoft has been working with the automotive industry for more than a decade. In manufacturing, Microsoft works with industry-leading partners to develop solutions based on Microsoft technologies that enable OEMs, suppliers and customers to improve efficiency, effectiveness and knowledge across the business. Through business applications, .NET technologies and enterprise platform support, manufacturers are able to accelerate time to market, collaborate globally with engineers, reduce costs by leveraging the power of the Internet, and increase visibility into their production and supply chain processes. From an in-vehicle technology perspective, Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit works collaboratively with the auto industry to deliver technology designed for advanced in-car information, navigation and entertainment systems. Microsoft technology is on the road today in 25 preinstalled and aftermarket devices from 13 world-class automakers and suppliers, including Acura, BMW, Citroën, Clarion, Fiat, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, NexTech, Toyota and Volvo.

Lean Enterprise Simulation Model ...

Simulation Model of the Lean Manufacture of NIF Assemblies

... "The concept of Lean Manufacturing, which was pioneered at Toyota, emphasizes continuous improvement through the identification of the value stream and the reduction of waste, and making value flow at the pull of the customer. The Lean concepts have been applied to many manufacturing applications in industry, most notably the major automotive plants. The NIF Lean Enterprise Team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is working to apply the concepts of Lean Manufacturing to the production of the mechanical and optical assemblies which will comprise the NIF system. Application of the Lean concepts requires the identification of the value stream, along with streamlining of the production process, such that unnecessary steps are eliminated, and production flows according to the demand schedule in a 'just-in-time' manner." ...

Kaizen Strategy: Lean Manufacturing

Waste Minimization: Lean Manufacturing

... "The kaizen strategy aims to involve workers from multiple functions and levels in the organization in working together to address a problem or improve a particular process. The team uses analytical techniques, such as Value Stream Mapping, to quickly identify opportunities to eliminate waste in a targeted process. The team works to rapidly implement chosen improvements (often within 72 hours of initiating the kaizen event), typically focusing on ways that do not involve large capital outlays. Periodic follow-up events aim to ensure that the improvements from the kaizen blitz are sustained over time. Kaizen can be used as an implementation tool for most of the other lean methods." ...

Lean Initiative: The initiative covers an area of improvement of the product process from concept to operations use of turbine engines in military air

Lean Initiative

... "The principles of lean thinking were first documented in the U.S. by researchers from MIT International Motor Vehicle Program and in the book 'The Machine That Changed the World' by James Womack, Daniel Jones and Daniel Roos. The lean philosophy employs five basic principles of lean thinking: (1) specify value from the perspective of the end customer, (2) identify the value stream for each product, (3) create continuous flow of the product, (4) let the customer 'pull' the product and (5) strive for perfection. Lean is intended to attack muda (Japanese for waste) and give customers exactly what they want, when they want it and perform tasks more and more effectively. " ...

Lean Principles Pilot Program

DECD: Connecticut Tooling and Machining Manufacturers Awarded $36,700 for Pilot Program

... "CTMA plans to conduct lean practice training, assessments, value-stream mapping and kaizen events on behalf of its participating companies, leading to greater penetration of lean principles among member companies. The following CTMA companies currently plan to participate in the pilot program: AcuCut Inc. (Southington), Edward Segal Inc. (Thomaston), Fairchild Automated Parts (Winsted), Hobson & Motzer Inc. (Durham), Hygrade Precision Technologies Inc. (Plainville), and Signature Mold and Manufacturing Company Inc. (Glastonbury)." ...

Lean Manufacturing Training Workshops ...

Lean Manufacturing Training Workshops: Lean Manufacturing Training from Brookline Company Helps Local ...

Upcoming lean manufacturing workshops ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... LEI) will help industry and suppliers in the Boston region cut costs, improve profits, and defend jobs by eliminating waste through lean manufacturing. ...

... A series of workshops presented by the Brookline-based nonprofit Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) will help industry and suppliers in the Boston region cut costs, improve profits, and defend jobs by eliminating waste through lean manufacturing. The series of seven workshops, including new ones on value-stream mapping for offices and healthcare, will run March 29-31 at the Wyndham Boston hotel, Boston, MA. ...

Lean manufacturing cuts costs and inventories rapidly to free cash and resources, which is critical in a competitive world economy. Lean supports growth by improving productivity and quality, reducing lead times, and freeing resources. For example, it frees office and plant space and increases capacity so companies can add product lines, in-source component production, and increase output of existing products. Companies implementing lean can take advantage of renewed economic growth by increasing sales while controlling costs. Based in Brookline, MA, the Lean Enterprise Institute is a nonprofit training, publishing, and research organization founded by James Womack, Ph.D., in August 1997. It has developed simple but powerful tools for implementing a set of ideas known as lean production and lean thinking, based initially on the Toyota Production System and now extended to an entire Lean Business System.

Value Stream Optimization Increases Production One Hundred Percent ...

OH Impact 18: MEP Helps Pro-Pak Industries Increase Production One Hundred Percent

... "NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate developed a unique three-prong training program for Pro-Pak that combined instruction in lean manufacturing principles, teamwork, problem solving, and value stream mapping into one integrated package. Twelve employees from management and operations trained on Saturdays to avoid interrupting production. In the end, the team determined that the equipment problem could be alleviated with a new die cut anvil, adding glue detection sensors and blanket printing plates. " ...

Supplier Lean Training ...

Governor Locke's Speeches | Washington State Supplier Lean Training Kick-off Event

... "Raising and enhancing the skill level of manufacturing workers within all tiers of the value stream will make our suppliers even more competent. And more competitive with other states, and other countries. Strengthening our manufacturing excellence will more competitively position us to earn more manufacturing work. Including the 7E7. Boeing has long been a leader in lean manufacturing. From the Japan Study Missions more than a decade ago to sweeping changes in processes and techniques in the factory the past several years, Boeing has shown the courage and foresight to change and improve. " ...

Value Stream Mapping Supports Lean Principles ...

DECD: Connecticut Tooling and Machining Manufacturers Awarded $36,700 for Pilot Program

... "With the project slated for completion by October 1, CTMA plans to conduct lean practice training, assessments, value-stream mapping and kaizen events on behalf of its participating companies, leading to greater penetration of lean principles among member companies. The following CTMA companies currently plan to participate in the pilot program: AcuCut Inc. (Southington), Edward Segal Inc. (Thomaston), Fairchild Automated Parts (Winsted), Hobson & Motzer Inc. (Durham), Hygrade Precision Technologies Inc. (Plainville), and Signature Mold and Manufacturing Company Inc. (Glastonbury)." ...

Pollution Prevention Lean Value Stream ...

Pollution Prevention - P2 Programs:Green Suppliers Network

... "Lean and Clean. Using Lean & Clean manufacturing practices, your GSN review team will focus on incorporating energy and materials efficiency and process optimization into the supply chain, which in turn can lead to substantial environmental benefits and reductions in labor and capital costs. The 360vu Review will produce process and value stream maps of a selected process in each facility." ...

Lean Value Stream for NIF Assemblies

Simulation Model of the Lean Manufacture of NIF Assemblies

... "The concept of Lean Manufacturing, which was pioneered at Toyota, emphasizes continuous improvement through the identification of the value stream and the reduction of waste, and making value flow at the pull of the customer. The Lean concepts have been applied to many manufacturing applications in industry, most notably the major automotive plants. The NIF Lean Enterprise Team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is working to apply the concepts of Lean Manufacturing to the production of the mechanical and optical assemblies which will comprise the NIF system. Application of the Lean concepts requires the identification of the value stream, along with streamlining of the production process, such that unnecessary steps are eliminated, and production flows according to the demand schedule in a 'just-in-time' manner." ...