Working Out - SNIPS article

Most duct-fabrication shops pride themselves on having a neat, clean and efficient shop.

But in many cases, it could be better, much better than they ever imagined and without major capital investments.

It can become “lean.”

Lean came out of manufacturing, in particular Toyota’s automobile production techniques. It has since found use in all types of manufacturing. One published report said 70 percent of all U.S. manufacturing plants have implemented some form of lean. Most duct fabricators are just starting to apply it. There are many lean tools and concepts and those most applicable to duct fabrication include the principle of “flow” and the “Five S.”

Lean seeks to add value to the product — value that customers are willing to pay for. Value is the opposite of waste, and lean makes war on waste. One key concept of lean is to make value flow.

The customer does not pay for a sheet or coil of metal. Many customers could purchase the sheet metal for as much or even less than duct shops can. But customers aren’t in the fabrication business; they pay for fabricated duct installed to serve their needs.

Value

Sheet metal is only of value when it is fabricated, installed and working. Value is added when the metal is being cut, welded, clamped, beaded and bent. When the physical nature of metal is changed, value is added. When nothing is happening to the metal, such as when...

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