Lean Zone® Production Methodologies, a cellular manufacturing simulation, has been sold to over 28 countries, and is widely used by Fortune 500 companies and other large organizations, including Bell Helicopter, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Lockheed-Martin, Black & Decker, and Eastman-Kodak as a vital training tool.
Lean Zone® Production Methodologies helps break down employees' natural resistance to change, making it a practical and entertaining way to introduce new concepts, open constructive dialogue and demonstrate the positive aspects of well-planned directed change. Employees involved in the simulation see why lean Production Methodologies is necessary. It helps to remove their fears regarding change and encourage them to identify non-value added activity. Using a fictional aircraft factory, Lean Zone® Production Methodologies also specifically teaches advanced manufacturing practices, including:
- The benefits of cellular manufacturing over traditional plant layouts
- The effects of rapid throughput with traditional manufacturing
- Work-in-progress as a manageable asset
- Inventory risks
- Independent cross training
- Flexible workforce (load leveling)
- One-piece workflow with a pull system
Six participants operate simulated workstations along the assembly line in their imaginary aircraft plant. The four-phase simulation begins with participants producing airplanes using a traditional plant layout. In phases two and three, they redesign their work area into a cellular layout and learn to utilize one-piece workflow with a pull system. In the final phase, they experience the concepts of a flexible workforce and load leveling.
Supplier problems, labor skills, deadlines, quality control and other real-life situations have been incorporated into each phase of the simulation. Each phase lasts six minutes with time for comments and discussion.
Many organizations spend hundreds of dollars per person on lengthy seminars for employees to learn what Lean Zone® Production Methodologies can teach in as little as one hour - all for only $765. We ship internationally!
Overview: Most products can be made in one
continuous flow. In many factories, the different operations that
produce the product are spread throughout the factory, and products are
moved from one area to the next as they are assembled. Production
Methodologies demonstrates how to design a work cell containing all
equipment and personnel required to make the complete part in one
continuous flow. Once the cell is designed, one-piece flow and work
balancing are introduced to increase throughput and reduce
work-in-progress.
Main teaching points: Cellular Layout, One Piece
Flow with a Pull System, Work Balancing (Flexible Work Force), Lead Time
Reduction, and Rapid Throughput
Other lean concepts: Traditional Plant Layout versus Cellular Layout, Inventory Risks, Point of Use Storage, and Independent Cross Training