Rapid Continuous Improvement Snap-on Climate Solutions
Rapid Continuous Improvement is in the heart of Snap-on’s beliefs since the beginning of the company. The Japanese philosophy KAIZEN (KAI = Change, improvement ZEN = good, better) became a disciplined and systematic method adopted by companies all over the world.
By “change through everyone’s participation”, KAIZEN strives to achieve more effective and efficient operations, improves company’s profitability by reducing unrecognized inefficiency and streamlined logistics. Main pillars in the key principles are “Kanban” (visual board to optimize communication in “just-in-time production”), Lean production (systematic manufacturing method eliminating the waste generated from uneven workloads and overburden) and “Gemba” (focus on the place where things really happen) and the standardization of processes.
The recent 2023 edition of the Kaizen event in Snap-on Climate Solutions organized 3 teams, each consisted of 6 people of various disciplines and skills coming from different countries. This ensures different point of views and competences in combination. The groups deeply focused all attention for one week on specific optimizations in the project areas Innovation, Assembly and Logistics.
Concrete results are amazing.
Innovation team focused on specified assembly processes and components. The starting point was a completely disassembled station in all its components. Any detail might offer more linear assembly workflow, effective storage and efficient organization of each workstation. Distances have been shortened, assembly and subassembly coordination optimized and total time of assembly reduced. Several improvements have been implemented also in logistics workflow and purchase planning.
To be continued. A Snap-on day by day work in progress to keep improvement always rapid and continuous!
