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London/Oxford April SIG Event...Kanban Systems

By May 5, 2010
Jason Bates

On April 28th London EMC Member Trojan Technologies did an amazing job of sharing one of their best practices at this SIG event. They detailed their Kanban/Inventory Management Systems for the group.
Trojan were able to increase their inventory turns from 4 to 12 with the implimentation of this program.

London/Oxford

SIG Event April 28th @ Trojan Technologies

Continuous Improvement/Best Practice Sharing

London EMC Member Trojan Technologies did an amazing job of sharing one of their best practices at this SIG event. They detailed their Kanban/Inventory Management Systems for the group.

Trojan's inventory turns went from 4 times a year to 12 times a year once the committed to a Kanban system and implement it.

The objectives of this SIG Session were;

-         Become familiar with Trojan's Kanban and related process.

-         Become familiar with the level of accountability & ownership required to support these processes.

What Kanban Offers Tojan;

-         Improve the flow of material

-         Control their largest asset

-         Reduce waste

-         Providing visual controls

-         Promote ownership at all levels

-         Simple and flexible

Kanban Kept Simple

-         A kanban is emptied

-         The kanban is turned in

-         The kanban is ordered

-         The kanban is received

-         The kanban is out away

 The question is how does Trojan sustain a "simple" and "visual" process?

-         Engagement of all involved staff, in process and standards development.

-         Documentation

-         Training

-         Measurement

-         Make is available for change

The Kanban Process Outlines;

-         Information gathering

-         Using kanban materials

-         Excess material

-         Exception orders

-         Ordering and receiving of materials

-         Receiving partial orders

-         Ordering multiple cards of the same item

-         Replacing and reporting lost kanban cards

-         Signaling material shortages

-         Recognizing and responding to past due kanban cards

-         When to resize kanban qualities

-         Definitions

Supporting Processes;

-         Kanban Audit Process

-         Exception Process

-         Kanban material presentation standards

At Trojan, Kanban is a visual signal (card) used to indicate a re-order point.

EMPTY A BIN, TURN IT IN!

-         Kanban cards on bins can be found on the left side of the bin or, if located on racks, can be found directly above the material.

-         Always pick from the box/bin with the "Pick First" label.

-         When picking the last item from the Kanban, place the "Pick First" label on the next kanban box/bin to be picked from.

-         Hand the kanban card in. A Material Associate of Production Cell Planner can assist.

Kanban in not the only Process;

-         Daily cycle count & location auditing

-         Weekly inventory reporting and monitoring

-         Quarterly excess and obsolescence reviews

4 Items Critical to Trojan's Inventory Management Success;

-         Engagement

-         Weekly inventory monitoring and reviews

-         Visual management & kanban

-         Cycle counting

From Trojans complete presentation including before and after pictures please check the London/Oxford Consortium home page; http://www.emccanada.org/membersonl/ontario/london

If you have any other questions or would like more info on London/Oxford area EMC events please contact;

Jason Bates, EMC Canada

519-281-1176 jbates@emccanada.org

 

 

About the author

Jason Bates

Jason BatesLocal Field Service Advisor (FSA)Prior to joining EMC as a FSA in August of 2006 Jason worked throughout Southwestern Ontario in a sales and marketing capacity for an industrial…

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Post Date:
May 5, 2010
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Jason Bates

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