LEAN PRODUCTION

Question 1

LEAN PRODUCTION DEFINITION

Answer 1

Lean production is an approach to management that focuses on cutting out waste, whilst ensuring quality. This approach can be applied to all aspects of a business – from design, through production to distribution.

Question 2

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEAN PRODUCTION

Answer 2

JIT (Just in time)
Kaizen (Continuous improvements)
Cell production
Time based management

Question 3

WHAT LEAN PRODUCTION IS USED TO PROMOTE

Answer 3

Eliminate waste.
Minimise inventory.
Maximise flow.
Pull production from customer demand.
Meet customer requirements.
Do it right the first time.
Empower workers.
Design for rapid changeover.

Question 4

KAIZEN PRODUCTION

Answer 4

Kaizen, or rapid improvement processes, often is considered to be the “building block” of all lean production methods. Kaizen focuses on eliminating waste, improving productivity, and achieving sustained continual improvement in targeted activities and processes of an organization.

Question 5

JIT (JUST IN TIME)

Answer 5

Just-in-time manufacturing (JIT manufacturing) is a production model in which items are created to meet demand, not created in surplus or in advance of need. Organizations adopt the JIT approach to increase efficiency, reduce costs and speed up product delivery.
When supply is ordered to arrive as the old is finished.

Question 6

CELL PRODUCTION

Answer 6

Cell production is a form of team working and helps ensure worker commitment, as each cell is responsible for a complete unit of work. Allows for specialisation at certain stages of manufacturing. Eg one cell makes the piano keys one cell will create the piano frame etc.

Question 7

TIME BASED MANAGEMENT

Answer 7

Time-based management is an aspect of lean production. It is a general approach that recognises the importance of time and seeks to reduce the level of wasted time in the production processes of a business

The potential benefits of time-based management include:

Quicker response times (reduced lead times) to meet changing market and customer needs
Faster new product development
Reduction in waste, therefore greater efficiency
For a firm to operate time-based management effectively, it needs to have flexible production facilities that enable it to make changes easily. For example, it may need to be able to switch production quickly between different products and to alter the length of production runs as needed.