Lean engineering | ASSEMBLY

Pipe-and-Joint System Improves Ergonomics at Pump Manufacturer

May 2, 2021

Last year's California wildfire season was a record-setting one for the state. By the end of 2020, more than 9,600 fires had burned nearly 4.4 million acres, or more than 4 percent of the state's roughly 100 million acres of land.

Notre Dame’s ‘iNDustry Labs’ Helps Manufacturers Operate Smarter

Austin Weber

March 18, 2021

South Bend, home to the University of Notre Dame, has a long history of manufacturing. In the past, the city in northern Indiana hummed with large factories belonging to companies such as Bendix Corp. (automotive and aircraft brakes), Oliver Chilled Plow Works (agricultural equipment) and Studebaker Corp. (cars, trucks and wagons).

Lean Gives Crown Equipment a Lift

Continuous improvement and a vertical manufacturing strategy enable Crown to compete in a crowded market.

John Sprovieri

January 4, 2021

If a pallet-load of stuff must be moved around a warehouse, factory or retailer somewhere in the world, chances are pretty good that the machine doing the heavy lifting was made by Crown Equipment Corp.

How Lean Helped GE’s Turbine Factory Find Its Mojo

Lean has enabled GE’s turbine assembly plant in Greenville, SC, to save money, improve quality, and reduce manufacturing time

Tomas Kellner

December 3, 2020

In the last half century, the GE Gas Power plant in Greenville, SC, has experienced the same kind of dizzying roller coaster ride as the city where it's located.

Mercedes’ Factory of the Future

Mercedes’ new assembly plant sets standards for flexibility, efficiency, sustainability and digital production.

John Sprovieri

November 4, 2020

The Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, has seen a lot of change during more than a century of operation.

The Ergonomics of Wire Harness Assembly

Manual tasks pose numerous risks to assemblers

Austin Weber

October 15, 2020

When it comes to assembling wire harnesses, humans still do it better than automation. That's why wire processing remains a largely manual process. However, it also poses a number of ergonomic issues and concerns, including the risk of back, finger, neck, shoulder and wrist injuries.

2020 Assembly Plant of the Year: There’s No Looking Back at Murakami

The Campbellsville, KY, plant excels at continuous improvement and workforce development

Austin Weber

October 6, 2020

Every motorist uses rearview mirrors whenever they get behind the wheel. In fact, most people look at them every few seconds as they drive. However, few ever give those ubiquitous devices much thought.

Wire Harness Manufacturers Get Help Through MEP

John Sprovieri

July 23, 2020

Located in Portland, OR, AmFor Electronics Inc. has been manufacturing wire harnesses, cable assemblies, electrical panels and electromechanical assemblies since 1961. Its products can be found in cars, trucks, construction equipment and agricultural equipment.

Culture Drives Efficiency and Quality at Wire Harness Manufacturer

Virginia-based contract manufacturer uses employee input and skill development to build better processes.

July 21, 2020

Over the past decade, Parker Garrett has visited hundreds of companies. During the course of those visits, he's observed his share of unhappy workplaces. Conversations reveal frustrations with bureaucracy, poorly designed processes and "odd" decision-making not in the best interest of either the company or its employees.

Success With Workstations

New workstations have helped manufacturers in various industries improve productivity and ergonomics

John Sprovieri

May 11, 2020

Looking for stuff, whether it be keys, wallet, phone, meeting notes, spices in a kitchen cabinet, or pencils in my woodworking shop, is the bane of my existence. Some days, I feel as if I spend more time looking for stuff than I do actually using the stuff I was looking for.