Andon - ANSWER A visual feedback system for the shop floor, it can indicate
production status (i.e. which machines are currently in operating or units
planned vs. actual), an abnormality (i.e. a material shortage), or needed actions,
such as changeovers.
Autonomous Maintenance - ANSWER Designed to give machine operators
more control over their equipment, this method allows machinists the
independently perform basic maintenance steps, such as lubrication, bolt
tightening, cleaning, or inspection.
Continuous Flow - ANSWER Manufacturing process where work-in-process
smoothly flows through production with minimal (or no) buffers between steps
of the manufacturing process.
Just-In-Time (JIT) Inventory - ANSWER Pulls parts through production based
on customer demand instead of pushing parts through production based on
projected demand.
Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) - ANSWER A long-term approach to
manufacturing that systematically seems to achieve small, incremental process
changes on a continual basis, all aimed at improving overall efficiency and
quality. In Japanese, it literally means "change for better."
Kaizen Event - ANSWER A process in which small groups of employees from
all levels of the organization meet to proactively examine a specific
manufacturing process and create incremental improvements within it.
Kanban (Pull System) - ANSWER A visual system for controlling production
needs. Based on automatic replenishment through signal cards that indicate
when more goods are needed, both from within the factory and from outside
suppliers. The goal of this system is to maintain a rapid manufacturing pace
while lowering the cost of maintaining inventory.
production status (i.e. which machines are currently in operating or units
planned vs. actual), an abnormality (i.e. a material shortage), or needed actions,
such as changeovers.
Autonomous Maintenance - ANSWER Designed to give machine operators
more control over their equipment, this method allows machinists the
independently perform basic maintenance steps, such as lubrication, bolt
tightening, cleaning, or inspection.
Continuous Flow - ANSWER Manufacturing process where work-in-process
smoothly flows through production with minimal (or no) buffers between steps
of the manufacturing process.
Just-In-Time (JIT) Inventory - ANSWER Pulls parts through production based
on customer demand instead of pushing parts through production based on
projected demand.
Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) - ANSWER A long-term approach to
manufacturing that systematically seems to achieve small, incremental process
changes on a continual basis, all aimed at improving overall efficiency and
quality. In Japanese, it literally means "change for better."
Kaizen Event - ANSWER A process in which small groups of employees from
all levels of the organization meet to proactively examine a specific
manufacturing process and create incremental improvements within it.
Kanban (Pull System) - ANSWER A visual system for controlling production
needs. Based on automatic replenishment through signal cards that indicate
when more goods are needed, both from within the factory and from outside
suppliers. The goal of this system is to maintain a rapid manufacturing pace
while lowering the cost of maintaining inventory.
