Work Study forms the basis for work system design. The purpose of work design is to identify the most effective means of achieving necessary functions. Work study aims at improving the existing and proposed ways of doing work and establishing standard times for work performance. Work design involves job design, work measurement and the establishment of time standards and worker compensation. Work Study is encompassed by two techniques -method study and work measurement (time study): Method study is the systematic recording and critical examination of existing and proposed ways of doing work, as a means of developing and applying easier and methods and reducing costs. The main purpose of method study is to eliminate the unnecessary operations and to achieve the best method of performing the operation. Method study is also called methods engineering or work design. Method engineering is used to describe collection of analysis techniques which focus on improving Continue reading
Operations Management
Kaizen Vs Six Sigma: What’s the Difference?
The significance of a positive change is intrinsically characteristic of any culture. However, when viewed through the lens of a specific set of traditions, philosophies and the world picture, the phenomenon shapes, gaining new shades of meaning and incorporating more wisdom. Although kaizen, which is the Japanese interpretation of the continuous improvement concept, originates from a culture strikingly different from the Western one, in general, and the American one, in particular, it rubs shoulders with the Six Sigma concept as the foundation for an unceasing change toward the changing concept of perfection. The concept of improvement, which both Six Sigma and kaizen are meant to be geared toward, evidently is the characteristic that brings the two notions together. Diving deep into the Japanese philosophy of kaizen, one must mention that it implies little changes done reliably over a drawn out stretch of time. In other words, the focus on the Continue reading
Kaizen – Definition, Meaning, Process, Implementation, Advantages and Disadvantages
What is Kaizen? Japan’s management philosophy has introduced a new creative strategy for competitive success in business, or the so-called “Kaizen” model. The term Kaizen began to receive attention from management experts and scholars around the world when Masaaki Imai published his first book in 1986, “The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success”. Kaizen is a Japanese word with literally mean improvement, taken from words ‘Kai’, which means continuous and ‘zen’ which means improvement. Some translate ‘Kai’ to mean change and ‘zen’ to mean good, or for the better. In the context of Lean manufacturing, kaizen is understood to signify small, incremental, and frequent improvements to a process. Lean philosophy states that the large improvement which just require small amounts of investment and risk. The kaizen main mindset is making process improvements without adding people and space to the process. The more important one is implement the change without spending the Continue reading
Maximizing Productivity through Lean Thinking and Just-In-Time (JIT)
Companies aim to improve their productivity and increase their profitability. Consequently, many firms adopt effective strategies and business models that enhance their operations. Lean Thinking and Just-In-Time (JIT) models help maximize their efficiency and viability. Lean thinking involves a transformational framework that organizes human activities to deliver value to human beings while eliminating waste. Meanwhile, JIT is an inventory model that allows goods to be received from suppliers only as they are needed. The rationale for companies adopting JIT is to reduce inventory holding costs and increase inventory turnovers. Therefore, Lean thinking and JIT are significant among businesses since they help reduce costs and promote business productivity. The lean thinking framework has been adopted by many companies and has proved successful in various industrial dimensions. James Womack and Daniels Jones first used the term. The concept integrates five principles that contribute to its success: value, value stream, flow, pull, and Continue reading
KAIZEN Philosophy – A Way to Continuous Improvement
Kaizen is a Japanese word that stands for “improving” or “making better” and refers to any kind of improvement no matter how insignificant it may seem: it concerns one-time and continuous changes, small- and large-scale ones. The approach was chosen as it simultaneously improves all aspects of the production (including supply chain management) and involves all people working for the company from assembly line workers to the CEO. The approach is universal and can be successfully used in a number of different fields (automobile industry, health care, banking, etc.). In Japanese, Kaizen mostly refers to industrial and business organizations (as it was first practiced by Japanese businesses in the post-war period and later heavily promoted by Toyota), whereas in English, the word is not associated with any particular sphere but usually signifies continuous improvement. There are two major types of Kaizen that differ mainly in the scope of their implementation: flow Continue reading
Methods of Production – Job, Batch and Flow Methods
Production and operation management has become an essential part of manufacturing organizations. These organizations always experience pressure in all divisions and units. Pressures are in terms of orders to be completed on due dates, breakdown of machines, absence of employees, lateness on delivery of materials, and industrial actions by employees to improve working conditions. To meet these challengers, firms usually rely on an effective methods of production and operation methods. A manufacturing organization may use different methods of production such as use job, batch or flow production depending on a number of factors. However, it is important to have a clear distinction between these three methods of production to know where each one is applicable. Whatever methods of production is used, the objective is to produce goods and services which is highly profitable and to use the most effective and efficient method. Considerations should also be made to other aspects Continue reading