When Investment in Technology Makes Sense – And When it Doesn’t
Industry 4.0: When Investment in Technology Makes Sense – And When it Doesn’t The past 20 years have seen a rapid acceleration of technological development. The internet, 5G mobile communications, 3D printing, artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling more and more innovation in industrial technology. Collectively the impact of these new technologies are being …
Visual Workshop Process – Colour the Work Centres When Selecting the Best Layout
When designing a new factory, warehouse or officespace it can be easier for your teams to understand and buy in quicker using this easy tip. Read as Anthony Clyne explains how he would design a workspace with this easy concept.
Easyquip Interview: Moving from Batch to Flow Production
TXM worked with Easyquip to implement a new production process using value stream mapping to help rearrange their manufacturing process to achieve flow production.
Our team of senior consultants have just attained Lean Expert Accreditation and TXM customer APT have had 8 employees complete the Lean Practitioner Accreditation.
Five Ways to Improve Supplier Performance
Whether your business is involved in manufacturing or distribution, chances are that the number one reason why you fail to deliver to your customers on time and in full is your suppliers. So why are so many suppliers so bad and what can you do to improve supplier performance?
5S Lean Housekeeping: Sort, Set, Shine, Standardise, Sustain
To have an organised and efficiently running factory, we need to know that everything has a place, is in that place and is clean and ready for use – this is the basic premiss for the Lean manufacturing tools we use to implement good housekeeping; 5S.
What is Effective Company Leadership?
What is effective company Lean Leadership? Company Lean leadership comes out of three key elements:- a strong senior management vision, good middle management action plans and proven shop floor results. Each of these levels has key functions to perform in order to create effective Lean leadership.
Four Practical Strategies to Help You Navigate the Skills Shortage Without Increasing Salaries
Reflection on past efforts provides the opportunity to look inwards and get the most from the people you already have. Read as Tim McLean explains 4 strategies to navigate the current skills shortage.
The Top 6 Ways to Engage Suppliers to Improve your Supply Chain
The Top 6 Ways to Engage Suppliers to Improve your Supply Chain Everyone wants to engage suppliers to improve performance. It seems like an easy win – no need to deal with messy organisational politics, no one to lay off (the suppliers can do that). No need for capital investment, just tell your suppliers to …
Creating a Lean Factory Layout
Often the TXM team are called in to help relocate factories or rearrange within the current walls to improve production efficiency. It can seem like an overwhelming task for many and by breaking it down into manageable steps it can be accomplished like any other project.
TXM Lean Case Study – Harvest Moon – Lean Agribusiness
Planting the Seeds of Operational Excellence The Challenge Our customer is a major grower and processor of fresh vegetables. They are a major producer of cabbages, potatoes, onions and is Australia’s largest carrot producer. They were an interesting lean food industry challenge, where TXM applied lean principles to an Agribusiness. They operate a highly …
Interpod Interview: Building the Production Process for Modular Bathrooms
Interpod are Australia’s largest builder of modular bathrooms for use in high rise settings. Watch the interview with CEO Cameron Monks about the benefits of TXM helping Interpod achieve operational excellence.
Running Out of Factory Space? – Five Places to Find More
One of the most expensive and risky projects that your business will make is relocating its manufacturing operations. Read as we provide some more cost effective solutions that moving your whole operation.
Keeping Your Daily Team Meeting Effective
Daily team meetings start off with great level of enthusiasm and vigour when first implemented; however it doesn’t last too long after the first couple of weeks. The members may become bored and disengage from the purpose of the meeting. The forming of any team takes time. We can expect it will follow through the stages of Tuckman’s team development model of Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing. A team develops throughout these stages and they need to be allowed the time to step through these stages.
TXM Lean Minute – Traffic Light Graphics for Visual Control
Traffic lights are universally understood – red means stop, green means go and orange means watch out! This video shows how this can be used in your workplace as a powerful basis for visual control.
Creating a “Future State” Value Stream Map
Previously we outlined what a value stream was and how to find yours in your manufacturing company. Now we will look at what we do with our current state map.
Production Flow Elements – Supermarkets
A key part of implementing Lean Manufacturing into a Production area is understanding Flow; how parts move along the processes, between each workstation and what this looks like across the week and month. The future state value stream map has provided a vision for what the Production flow will look like, defining which parts of the overall production process can flow easily, which parts needs direction and which sections need
Eight Ways to Make More With What You’ve Already Got
Prices are rising, labour and materials are hard to get and margins being squeezed, every business needs to be focused on how to control their costs. The best way to do this is to eliminate unnecessary activities or waste.
Lean Manufacturing Quick Tip 1 – Zero Monitoring
Aim towards Zero Monitoring on production machines – It is recognise that monitoring activities on production machine are in itself a form waste and with possibly of using automated production process, any reduction in monitoring tasks can free people for more productive activities. In a a recent workshop it was observed that the operator of a filling process had to continually add or subtract small amount of product in order to correct the weight supplied by the automated delivery system. Not only has the operator have to monitor the process but as to correct (rework) the function of the machine.
TXM Signs MOU with Bosch Rexroth Australia
Melbourne based global operational excellence consultants, TXM Lean Solutions and world leading automation and assembly technology providers Bosch Rexroth have signed a memorandum of understanding covering co-operation between the two companies in Australia and New Zealand.
Kaizen is used to change for the better by eliminating the 7 forms of waste (Muda) in a process, as the main continuous improvement tool.
The terms operational excellence and continuous improvement are often used interchangeably, but in fact they are quite different. Learn the difference
5 Workplace Behaviours to Improve Productivity: It’s Like Baking A Cake
Improving workplace productivity can be harder than you think, but it can to broken down into parts to make it easier to acheive. It’s just like baking a cake.
Over the past three years we have posted dozens of videos, but a few have really connected with the on-line audience. The common thread is that they offer simple practical tips that you can implement today in your business.
New Lean Thinking: How Understanding Customer Value is Key to Disrupting Your Market
Understanding the value you provide your customers is key in disrupting new markets and creating growth. Focus on your customers!
Interpod: Modular Bathrooms Built On the Foundations of Operational Excellence
Interpod are Australia’s leading modular bathroom builder supplying to major property developers across Australia. Interpod Implemented Lean with excellent results. Read how they did it.
TXM Deliver Costs Savings and Reduced Lead Times for Tracerco Ltd
Tracerco is a world-leading industrial technology company. They asked TXM for help increasing the efficiency from quotation to delivery. Read how TXM delivered cost savings and reduced lead times in the thousands.
The Missing Metric – Productivity
In many of the companies TXM has visited over past number of years, productivity measusre are very hard to find. When enquiring about productivity, we are more often presented with a balance sheet, rather than a true ratio of operational efficiency. Productivity must be distilled to the cost per unit or one job. This will vary across industries and each company must investigate the best way to present productivity measures to their most important inputs – your staff. This baseline measure can then be compared year on year.
Operations Optimization at ICO Bath Leads to Record Sales Growth
TXM North America were tasked to help ICO Bath optimize operations through the application of Lean Thinking. At a site visit TXM President Ron Spiteri noticed major opportunities for improvement across manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and employee coaching. Learn how ICO achieved their vision.
Building the Optimal Warehouse Layout Drives Increased Output
TXM Lean Solutions UK were contacted by STS Ltd to create an optimal warehouse layout that would complement their business and help them drive increased output and reduce the amount of damaged product while increasing safety and sustainability. Learn how TXM helped STS achieve operational excellence.
Optimising Production Processes Ensures Consistent Manufacturing Output Increases
Optimising production processes help Truma UK meet predicted demand for a line of caravan moving systems and accessories. A production line rework was needed to cope with demand increases. Learn how TXM materialised Truma’s vision.
How 10 Minute Meetings Every Day Can Help You Get Back 9 Years of Your Life
Daily stand up meetings have the ability to provide important detail in a 10 minute meeting, helping you reclaim precious time to grow your business and drive growth. Learn How!
Scalable Manufacturing System Implemented for Cutting Edge PFAS Chemical Decontamination Unit
What happens when you join an innovative company with an innovative product, an engaged team, and a challenge to reduce lead time by more than 50%? This was the situation TXM faced when OPEC Systems asked for help building a system allowing scalable manufacturing processes to meet demand.
TXM Becomes Approved Provider for Lean Funding Programme in New Zealand
TXM Becomes Approved Provider for Lean Funding Programme in New Zealand TXM Lean Solutions New Zealand has recently been approved as a service provider for the Callaghan Innovation Lean Programme. This programme enables eligible companies to obtain a grant of up to $NZ20,000 to fund an investment in Lean consulting and training services. Callaghan Innovation …
TXM Lean Minute – Taking a Holistic View of Your Supply Chain
Taking a holistic view to your supply chain will provide more opportunities than only focussing on your local or international supply chain. Watch as Consulting Director Anthony Clyne explains why your best option is to look at your supply chain holistically.
TXM Lean Minute – Best Practice: Remote Audio
Sustaining your Lean transformation can be challenging. Having a simple set of clear principles that are easy for people to follow. Watch as Consulting Director Anthony Clyne explains why the TXM methodologies will help you maintain your transformation.
ISO18404 Lean Expert Assessment Resources
ISO18404 Lean Expert Assesment Resources This page provides all the required downloads to complete the ISO18404 worksheets and assessments. You can also upload your completed assessments for review and accreditation at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions about the ISO18404 course please contact your appropriate Lean Expert. Contact Information training@txm.com …
TXM Lean Minute – Sustaining Your Lean Transformation
Sustaining your Lean transformation can be challenging. Having a simple set of clear principles that are easy for people to follow. Watch as Consulting Director Anthony Clyne explains why the TXM methodologies will help you maintain your transformation.
TXM Lean Minute – The Value of Visual Metrics
Senior Lean Consulant Lee Candy explains why you should choose TXM & employ an experienced Lean Consultant to achieve your vision. Watch it now!
What Makes a Great Supply Chain Manager?
By Timothy McLean, author of “On Time in Full: Achieving Perfect Delivery with Lean Thinking in Purchasing, Supply Chain and Production Planning” Building a competitive and reliable supply chain is a critical success factor for any manufacturing business. This is especially true today, where we face constant volatility and disruption across global supply chains. In …