Main problem: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, U.S.A. (TMM) is deviating from the standard assembly line principle of jidoka in an attempt to avoid expenses incurred from stopping the production line for seat quality defects. This deviation has contributed to the inability to identify the root cause of the problem, which has led to decreased run ratios on the line and an excess of defective automobiles in the overflow lot for multiple days. If this problem isn’t fixed quickly, an increased amount of waste will continue to be incurred and customer value will be threatened.
Analysis:
Friesen is truly struggling to find a way to “have his cake and eat it too”. Friesen is passionate about TPS ways of achieving lean manufacturing by staying
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2. Immediately cease the deviation to production process and go back to jidoka and the andon pull standards, which would mean stopping production when defective seats are encountered.
3. Go back to the traditional production process, but have in stock a small ‘buffer’ of seat inventory to call on when defective seats are encountered on the line. So let’s evaluate these alternatives. By implementing the first solution, to continue the attempt to solve the problem off the line, the benefits are no stoppage to the production process, and therefore, a potential cost savings. However, this benefit is short term. The downsides are numerous and most likely more costly in the long run. Until the problem is solved run ratios will continue to be low, defects will be high, and the overflow lot will continue to grow – excessive waste will continue to happen. In addition, customer value will continue to be threatened. Also, by stopping the production line time and time again to deal with the defective seat, the flow of the production line will still be disrupted. And, since this alternative might not utilize those employees that are closest to the production line, there is a large risk that the root cause of the problem will never be uncovered. TPS philosophy stands by the fact that the employees are their greatest asset, as they have been trained to get the root of the problem. By
The factors that group two considers important to the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada will be using the weighted scoring model which is a system used to document decisions or solutions for management to make informed decisions taking into account all available options when it comes to resource allocation, (Carroll, Farr & Trainor, 2008).
Based on the 3 types of quality costs that have been discussed and reviewed above, I recommend that we look at doing more appraisals and inspections during the manufacturing process, this will limit the number of design changes that happen early in the process but it should help in cutting down our external failure costs and help limit
Owned equipment and supplies are often in need of repair and staff sometimes fail to keep accurate inventory and order on time of need.
In Station Quality amplifies problem. It makes any production problem instantly self evident and stop producing whenever problems are detected. Notice that problem are not only caught were they occur with this flow process but actually because of the pulled or downstream approach that any station can find problems miss by an earlier team. This encompasses that the entire production line is responsible for each other work. To further insure that the right part was available at the right time. TPS extended this process to its supplier by using another process step HEIJUNKA (Load Leveling). This process was simply, even distribution of special products or special orders. This prevented, as quoted in the case study “…several production runs…” each dedicated to just one model or one special order. TPS defined needs and value from the viewpoint of the next station down the line that is the immediate customer. These two tools which will give the employee the ability to catch defects quickly and work to correct the problem. Shows TPS complete faith in the employee and the team to solve most problems without a supervisor. In fact TPS development of these two principles and Load Leveling exemplify the individual employee or the team ability to solve most if not all the problems in the production. These tools along with the team concept instill a level of trust between the employee and management as the individual
This then translates to a 50% chance of not having inventory available during job opportunities. Therefore, opportunity costs might occur. The indifference of the production managers' in these aspects of inventory control is alarming and should be acted upon.
The company is weakened mainly by its lack of technological advancement in every area of production. For example, if the company chose to modify their equipment to produce their “Atherley” model as well, it would be able to lower production costs of this model, in turn increasing the profits of this model further. In addition, the Atherley Furniture Company greatest threat is the decreased market for their “Parkdale” model. The “Parkdale” model has the most time consuming and costly production. With lack of a market for this model, the company stands to continue to lose profits. In conclusion, if the company wishes to continue to operate their chair division profitably as well as efficiently, the above issues need to be addressed and corrected.
Recommendation:1. Improve Just-in-time systemSpartan Plastic Limited need to improve Just-in-time system, it is control aims to maintain inventory level at zero, with an immediate objective of reducing the capital tied to the inventories. It is an important principle that able to eliminating waste throughout the production system. The waste can occur, through excess inventories and overly large lot sizes, both of which can cause unnecessarily long customer lead times. Let's explain the role of the core JIT practices in enhancing manufacturing performance. JIT manufacturing requires the establishment of JIT supplier relationships with suppliers; Spartan in this case, that is able and willing to deliver the needed quantities of parts as the needs arise and without any defects.
Being able to increase productivity and revenues has always been the greatest challenge of any manager, and the manager of RL Wolfe, a plastic pipe manufacturer, was not an exception. Because of the low-efficiency percentage RL Wolfe had in comparison to their its competitors, John Amasi, director of Production and Engineering , had no other choice then came up with a new way of improving RL Wolfe production methods.
Wriston Manufacturing Corporation (WMC) is faced with a Detroit plant that is no longer viable because of underinvestment, labour issues, and product-process mismatch. This has lead to low sales figures, low return, and high burden rates (as calculated by the company). The issues at the Detroit plant will be reviewed and options will be presented. A recommendation to address the Detroit plant will be be made based on this review.
Since the current assembly line layout should achieving 100% line efficiency when running at maximum capacity of 215 units. Thus, to operate at target 300 units/day, the current assembly line needs to redesign.
This paper aims to support Natalie York, the operations manager at Harnswell Sewing Machine Company (HSMC), in her intent to improve product quality in the company. In addition to analyzing production process data of half-inch cam rollers and explaining the results, this paper also gives advice on which actions Natalie should take and how she should approach the CEO and founder of her company.
Automobile industry of japan witnessed an awesome accomplishment with the growth of Toyota. It became the biggest maker in the worldwide business. Toyoda kiichiro was hesitant to invest in automobile sector. In the year 1933 the company started its production. In order to have cost efficiency they adopted the mass production technology.
Boeing made use of lean techniques in their production system and increased its production by 50% and also reduced its floor space by 40%. Assembling a Boeing 737 is a typical job. Workers should take 367,000 parts, an same number of bolts, rivets, other equipment and 36 miles (58 kilometres) of electrical wire and then keep them all combined to make an airplane [2]. Engineers to machinists were involved in lean (reducing waste) in the factory. By creating an assembly line, aircraft will pass through the workers were they going to concentrate on assembling. Allocating all employees in the factory building and organising special teams helped a lot to solve the errors in the assembly line [2]. In the assembly line, there are eight beacon lights which reflect the production status. If everything is good it shows green colour. If an error occurs, the worker will press a button and the green light will changes to yellow and the panel board will shows the category of the problem(which category it is related to). The worker will pass on to a computer and writes about the problem in a brief manner and the problem should be assigned to special team to solve it within 30 minutes if not, the light turns to purple and the assembly line will shuts down. This moving assembly is the icon of factory’s lean strategies.
G. According to US News, the 2016 Toyota Prius was ranked #9 in compact cars, #5 in hybrid and electric cars, #8 in hatchbacks, and #10 in small cars (“2016 Toyota Prius | U.S. News & world report,” n.d.). It retails between $24,200 and $30,000 which is considered a compact car. “The Toyota Motor Corporation is a multinational corporation and now the world 's largest automaker in terms of sales, net worth, revenue, and profit according to Fortune Global 500. Toyota is positioned in the moderately low-price, high volume market” (“Strategic analysis of Toyota motor corporation,” 2003). They did move more into the higher-priced market with the Lexus brand and worked to fill the need for electric vehicles with the Toyota Prius. The company is diversified in various markets within the automobile industry and are able to branch out in several directions.
However, this process needs to be automated and accessible to their Chinese manufacturer so they are better able to prepare to fulfill the orders in a timely manner. This purchase order process should be combined with a plan that incentivizes their manufacturer to process their orders quicker. They also need to penalize the manufacture for faulty products and late delivery. Although they currently have a Quality Control process they should have their own representative participate in the QC the process in China.