People, Production and Procedures?

Often when I visit with a potential customer someone always states the following about their factory floor personnel…

“You don’t know our factory labor force; they will never be able to work any factory floor computer system regardless of how intuitive the user interface.”

And when we install the FACTIVITY system these same companies discover something; that a good easy-to-use floor interface can be so intuitive that even people on the floor who do not speak English (or do not read English) can quickly learn how to interact with a computer.  A system that controls dispatch, records labor time, captures OEE, delivers documents provides time/attendance and results in a… LEANER production process and increases of 2% - 5%!

Yet despite easy-to-use software and potential savings, we still find factories that do not enforce certain necessary procedures to expand the use of the system to continue the LEAN process.  Improving production with information systems tools is a reality that is quickly catching on.  Having everyone on the factory floor on the “same page” for each and every shift is important but it requires that the first line floor management is committed not just involved with the realities of their job.  That is…enforcing correct procedures regardless of whether it working on parts or working with a system!