Learn the terms and their meaning that go into a Lean Warehouse. Lean management is a philosophy that aims to eliminate waste and improve efficiency in warehousing, manufacturing and service industries. Here are some key terms and their meanings:
- Value: The customer’s perception of what is valuable.
- Value Stream: The process that creates and delivers value to the customer.
- Waste: Any activity that does not add value to the customer.
- Flow: The continuous movement of work through the value stream.
- Pull: The process of producing only what the customer needs, when they need it.
- Just-in-time (JIT): A system that produces and delivers products just in time for the customer to use them.
- Kaizen: A Japanese term that means continuous improvement.
- Kanban: A visual tool used to manage inventory and production.
- Poka-yoke: A mistake-proofing technique that prevents defects from occurring.
- Gemba: The place where the work is done, where improvements can be made.
- Andon: A visual signal that indicates a problem has occurred and needs to be addressed.
- Takt Time: The rate at which the customer demands products.
- Heijunka: A leveling technique used to balance production.
- Standard Work: A documented process that defines the best way to perform a task.
- 5S: A workplace organization system that consists of sorting, simplifying, sweeping, standardizing, and sustaining.
- Visual Management: A lean management practice that uses visual aids to communicate information, monitor performance, and identify problems in a workplace. It involves the use of visuals such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and other types of displays that help to make information easily understandable and accessible. The purpose of visual management is to create a more organized, efficient, and productive work environment by making important information readily available and easy to interpret. By using visual management techniques, employees are better able to monitor and control their work, identify problems and opportunities for improvement, and communicate with each other more effectively. Ultimately, visual management helps to improve the flow of work, reduce waste, and increase overall efficiency in a workplace.