Learn to Leverage Lean: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)/Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED)

Learn to Leverage Lean: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)/Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED)

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Learn to Leverage Lean: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)/Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED)

Jack Abbruzzese works at DJ Galvanizing Corporation in Windsor Ontario as a process and systems engineer. He works under different capacities and disciplines such as mechanical, information technology, and electrical. He has trained in Lean Six Sigma and he has focused on areas such as personnel training and process computer system management. He has a bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering. Abbruzzese made a presentation during the seminar, which focused on how to leverage lean. He focused on Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) techniques.

Many people have had success in implementation of six sigma but they have not been able to maintain that success to reflect the changing needs of technology and processes. It is not possible to realize the full benefits of Lean Six Sigma without understanding the main principles behind it and without adequate knowledge of the tools and the techniques available. By using SMED and TPM, one will be able to minimize waste and concentrate on the things that add value to a product or service. This requires examining all the processes involved in the design, manufacture and implementation of a product. The speaker noted that when one is able to use the techniques well, it leads to a reduction in waiting time, reduces the chances of overproduction and over processing, which directly reduce costs and contributes to saving resources.

What I took away from the presentation is that it is possible to reduce costs and unnecessary expenses by applying simple techniques. In many cases, engineers concentrate too much on complicated process that they do not consider looking for ways to make the techniques simpler. In addition, I learnt the importance of innovation as a way of avoiding unnecessary procedures. Looking at issues from different perspectives will help one to find ways of coming up with new ideas, processes, and techniques. A person does not always have to follow the established rules, as this will not pave the way for innovation.