Get Rid of the Garbage!

As we reflect on 2017, we’ve all probably realized that although we may have accomplished a lot, we haven’t achieved all of our goals. Some missed opportunities can be attributed to common everyday garbage… and when I speak of garbage, I mean waste.

Lean Manufacturing

Understanding the waste in our manufacturing workplace can help us get rid of the garbage and make 2018 more successful. So, what are the types of waste we see every day in our business?

1. Defects. Product errors.
2. Over-production. Making too much or creating more services than our customers need.
3. Inventory. Material not in use by our CUSTOMERS is waste.
4. Over-processing. Too many extra steps in our processes.
5. Transportation. Waste of moving goods.
6. Motion. People moving around doesn’t add value. Period.
7. Waiting. Product sits waiting for something to happen to it. Waste.

We’ve learned of these seven types of waste from Toyota^® and many programs have evolved from our attempts to eliminate this “muda” (Japanese word meaning "futility; uselessness; wastefulness").  Eliminating these wastes, though, is the harder thing to do.

In 2018, let’s plan to “get rid of the garbage” by developing business practices and strategies that eliminate these wastes. Some simple things we can do include:

• Improve scheduling. Turn off the tap and not produce too much (or do too much)
• Link processes together.
• Invest in smaller more flexible equipment.
• Outsource product until volume manufacturing makes sense
• Redesign work stations so people don’t have to walk from one machine to another to another.

Utilize lean processes including 5S, Kanban, Muda walks and Poke Yoke to reduce the waste in your business. 2018 will be more productive and profitable if we start the year off right!


Jeff Coats
Director - Market Development
Intertape Polymer Group