| A continuous improvement effort has been the hallmark for Tii's Lean Manufacturing Practices. As a custom injection molder, plant layouts were designed with lean in mind. Flexible manufacturing cell layouts are continually updated to integrate updated technology. Visual instructions using white boards and Standard Work procedures aid in preventing errors. Processes and product flow are streamlined and incorporate central material handling systems into the manufacturing cells. Each cell is structured to easily accommodate quick changeovers without losing their flexibility.
In creating a lean environment customer requirements were kept in mind. Flexibility of its manufacturing cells, level loading of its machines, maintaining KANBAN levels of raw material and customizing its delivery systems has lead to Tii providing a high quality, competitively priced product for its customers. Lean manufacturing efforts include:
- Operating 24 /7's with lights out for 12 hours of each day
- JIT manufacturing and daily "milk run" deliveries using returnable totes to customers KANBAN systems directly feeding their manufacturing lines
- Rigorous quality inspection plans with data captured electronically- eliminating need for incoming inspections at customers place of business
- Machine robotics leading to excess plastic being reground and fed back into the manufacturing process in real time
- KANBAN systems for both raw material and finished goods
- Mistake-proofing processes and waste elimination in processes and motion
- Daily pull signals from customers eliminating overproduction
Tii's lean manufacturing plant gives customers a new experience with manufacturing.
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