Yesterday, I suggested we consider cleaning up your work space. Today, I want look at the benefits of running an operation that’s ‘Lean and Clean’.
To run lean, we must have good housekeeping. Keep your area clean.
This is a simple truth. The best plants have good housekeeping.
It takes an “every person effort” to keep a plant orderly and clean.
Here are some of the things that I see that happen in clean plants:
- Management has a plan specific to cleaning up and clear accountabilities are assigned.
- Resources are available to ensure proper housekeeping. Resources include adequate staff hired, adequate tools available and adequate time available.
- A premium is placed on processing downfall timely. Downfall is the biggest contributor to the junky appearance of a plant.
- A premium is placed on the timely use of “cut stock.” There are no piles of “leftover boards” from previous orders. There is a plan to use them up.
- Housekeeping is perceived as necessary to productive operation as compared to a cost of doing business. Hidden costs exist in a poorly organized plant. Housekeeping is a premium.
Look around your operation. Could it benefit from a cleaning up?
