Rhythm Wheel
Optimizing QC Lab Testing: A Lean Approach
Optimizing QC lab performance requires a good foundation of workload leveling and standardized work to mitigate volatility before systematically targeting the waste in the testing process. By streamlining testing, combining similar runs, and eliminating redundant testing, labs can significantly reduce cycle times, cut costs, and improve overall operational efficiency.
The Misapplication of Value Streams: The Pitfalls of Small Dedicated Work Groups
While dedicating small groups to narrow work sub-streams is well-intentioned, it often misinterprets Lean principles and introduces severe inefficiencies due to workload volatility. Combining these work streams reduces variability and required staffing, allowing organizations to maximize productivity and truly optimize their value streams.
Why can't my department get ahead and be productive
In operations where the short interval (e.g. daily or weekly) workload varies, the most common method of distributing the work is to share it equally between the available people. We call this method “available work through available people”. The consequence of this approach is that even low daily workloads expand to fill the day resulting in poor productivity. Carefully designed standard work can improve your department’s performance by consistently making the most out of people’s time.
Can and should Lean be applied in Labs?
Lean originated in the automotive industry and it’s easy to see how the tools and concepts are a good fit for that type of manufacturing. It’s much less obvious however that Lean can and should be applied in Labs. In recent times Lean Lab projects have become quite common but…
Is Lean really an appropriate strategy in the Lab environment or are labs just blindly following trends?
