Questions and Answers
When most people refer to health and safety efforts in the workplace, they primarily target eliminating workplace hazards to keep people safe from harm. However, the World Health Organization directly states that, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This infers that … Read more
According to OSHA’s top ten most cited safety violations in 2020, the most frequently cited electrical violation was the inability to control hazardous energy. In the industrial world, controlling hazardous energy is bundled together with the use of a Lockout Tagout program. Due to the safety implications that electricians and other workers face in electrified … Read more
Electricity is everywhere! It powers our kitchen appliances, entertainment systems, computers, water heaters, hairdryers, and countless other necessities in our homes. However, when improperly managed, electricity can be dangerous. It can cause fires and electrocute workers and homeowners, all of which can ultimately lead to serious injury or even death. Thankfully, there are a handful … Read more
Electrical safety audits must be performed on a regular basis for all electrical safety related programs within a workplace. More specifically, field work audits must happen yearly, and electrical program reviews must occur every three years or less. The three-year review gives the employer a chance to find outdated aspects of the safety program that … Read more
Isolation in electrical equipment, also known as power supply isolation, is primarily concerned with providing a means of separation between two circuits. While still enabling a power transfer from both electric components, electronic isolation prevents the transfer of alternating current and direct current to other parts of a system where it’s not wanted. By separating … Read more
Since its development, the guiding principles of Lean manufacturing have demonstrated to be successful for businesses in virtually any industry. From hospitals implementing Lean company-wide to small offices holding Kaizen events, Lean is proven for improving efficiency and reducing costs. One definition of Lean engineering is as a “holistic approach” that can help improve the … Read more
Lean principles have been growing in popularity within the construction industry as more and more jobsites are incorporating Lean techniques into traditional methods of construction. Although projects in construction are known to be unpredictable and likely to face a variety of disruptions to the workflow, construction companies are finding success by adopting Lean tools and … Read more
To put it most simply, the Toyota Production System (TPS) is the primary influence of Lean manufacturing which operates using a just-in-time (JIT) system. What is TPS? As its name suggests, the Toyota Production System was a production system created by the Toyota Motor Corporation. TPS was developed in the 1950s and 1960s with the … Read more
Developed by Toyota, 3M are three different types of waste that businesses can eliminate to become more “Lean”. Muda refers to common manufacturing activities that do not create any value for the customer. The Toyota Production System originally identified seven kinds of muda, known as TIMWOOD: Transportation: Unnecessary movements of the product between processes results … Read more
A “Lean” supply chain is a supply chain optimized to deliver products quickly and with little to no waste. From Lean tools to the philosophy of continuous improvement, businesses can reduce costs by translating the principles of Lean manufacturing to the supply chain. There are two main tenants of Lean manufacturing that can be applied … Read more