Why do we do What we do?
by Shane Vander Kooi -
We've continued to talk about takt times, or cycle times and standard work for more than a year now. So what? Why do we want to do this, or work at this change so hard? Why? Why? Why?
In simplest terms, takt times, or cycle times, and standard work are important in a production line because they help improve efficiency and quality. Cycle times set the pace for production, ensuring that each step is completed within a specific time frame to avoid delays and make the best use of resources. Standard work outlines the best way to perform tasks, reducing mistakes and creating consistency among workers. Together, these tactics help teams find ways to improve, streamline operations, and maintain high-quality products, which leads to happier customers and a stronger competitive edge.
In short, we do this to improve the quality that our customers demand, and improve the production capacity that our customers need.
Why ISO?
The question has been asked, “why are we pursuing ISO?” That's a great question, and we all need to understand the why behind it. It's not just to make more processes, or require team members to jump through hoops, or just because we needed something to do. Maintainer is committed to quality, and our customers know that and love that about us. By having processes, the idea behind ISO, our quality for both the external and the internal customer will continue to improve. If we measure parts the same way, with the right tools, have instructions that tell us how to weld our compartments or install Enpaks, then quality becomes repeatable and easy. If we could even reduce rework (e.g. fixing paint in PDI, fixing welds in Install, fixing parts in weld, etc.), how much easier would our jobs be and how much easier would we be able to produce a quality product?
ISO helps streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve efficiency, which can lead to cost savings. Overall, it provides a structure to managing quality that can drive business growth and success. Maintainer is committed to provide quality to our customers, so let's commit to providing quality to our team members. If those are the benefits of ISO, then why not?
