Waste in motion ...

People moving quickly in production facilities has often been regarded as a measure of performance … if they are hurrying then surely they are committed and busy right? Perhaps, but probably not! In the most efficient operations environments, workers only move the minimum amount required to perform the task at hand.

Waste in motion is a term used to describe the unnecessary movement of people, equipment and machinery that results in reduced output and diminished efficiency. Typically this type of waste grows progressively over time and can ‘hide in plain sight’. Here is an example:

AstuteOps observe that Andy, an Assembler in a cabinetmaking operation, walks 25m to the far end of the shed to gain access to the trolley containing the components for the next job he needs to assemble. When he gets there, he spends time locating the correct trolley by moving components around so that he can identify the job number on one of the pieces. He then shifts other trolleys so that he can create a clear path back to his work centre. Having arrived back at his work bench, he realises that he does not have the correct set-up for the type of job he is now about to begin. He heads back in the same direction from which he collected the trolley to visit the consumables store.

When asked why the trolleys are so far away, Andy replies that it has always been like that since he began working for the company. His co-worker, John, reports that when the 6th work bench was added a while back there was no longer enough room for component trolleys and the back wall was the only free room for them. The sawyers didn’t like it much either because it was a long way from their work centre as well, and they were required to push them over there before they could access new metal.

When quizzed about the introduction of the 6th work bench, management reported that it had been initiated to increase output, but that the returns had fallen short of expectation and overall efficiency per work station had actually declined. The exact cause had never been determined.

When exploring solutions for correcting waste in motion, there are 3 main considerations:

o Work Centre design

o Operating Procedures (work process)

o Employee engagement

The operations of nearly all SME’s contain motion and other forms of ‘waste’ that are hidden in plain sight. Employees and management alike are too caught up in the business-as-usual to notice.

AstuteOps can assist in the identification and correction of waste in motion and simultaneously increase efficiency and employee engagement mostly without any capital outlay.

AstuteOps

has extensive experience and expertise in

operations management for building, construction &

light manufacturing businesses. We work closely with SME's.

We have a deep understanding of manufacturing & assembly, and

proven capabilities in business optimisation and change management.

We get teams working, streamline processes and position businesses for success.

Contact Us