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OPEN HOUSE Come and learn about Bantam Electronics' manufacturing, logistics and integration services. Join us Friday, February 8, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for free demonstrations, tours, workshops ... and food! Tours of Bantam Electronics' Manufacturing Facility Free seminars and hands-on demonstrations of Microsoft Products via the Microsoft Across America Truck Counter Day - OKI Solder Stations and Luxo Microscopes Electronic product specials on Speco, Kester, Tech Spray, Hakko, Milwaukee Tools, and Cables Unlimited Visit our corporate website for more information. Lean Manufacturing and the 5S System One of the most common lean manufacturing principles, and generally the first one applied during implementation by both manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies alike is the 5S System. It is a workplace organization and housekeeping system. Applied correctly, there are great benefits in terms of productivity, quality, and morale to implementing this system. The 5S's are: Sort, Set In Place, Shine, Standardize and Sustain Sorting is the process of removing all unnecessary items from the workplace area. Items deemed unnecessary to the workplace are tagged are then moved to a "hold" area for review and disposition. Setting in place is the process of moving the necessary items into the correct position for use. It is the process of organizing the work area to be perfectly laid out for maximum efficiency through minimizing movement. All materials are placed as efficiently as possible to reach for ease of reach. Setting in place often includes the use of shadow boards that depict the spot in which to place the tool. Shine is the method of deep cleaning a machine or area to put it back into the condition it was when it was purchased. Machines that are kept in new condition have less downtime and produce the same quality level as a new machine. Standardizing is the process of standardizing the entire system, by determining exactly what needs done to maintain the system. For instance, if a specific portion of a machine is cleaned daily, there is a checklist and written instructions detailing who will do it, when it will be done, and methods and materials necessary. Sustaining the system is the process by which the system is maintained at best by an audit system. The audit system should not be punitive. Employee involvement and commitment at all levels is important to the 5S system and a punitive audit can destroy it. A rotating audit crew of peers is an excellent way to correct deficiencies. 5S implementation benefits include the upkeep of company assets, reduced maintenance costs, and more efficient set up times for the organization. Given the chance, employees will implement and sustain the 5S system by choosing an organized and clean workplace with a continuous improvement culture over a dirty disorganized facility. Bantam Distribution provides everything from tools for your 5S workstation to labels and label makers used for efficiency from manufacturers such as ProLine Workstations, OKInternational, Brady Labeling, and more. Visit Turn to Bantam Distribution For OSHA's Hazardous Communication Standards Materials Violations of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) totaled $1.5 million dollars last year. Over 3,400 companies were fined for failure to comply with one or more aspects of the standard. Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers. All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and MSDSs for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. The standard uses a two-level approach wherein chemical manufacturers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce and provide detailed information sheets - Material Safety Data Sheets - for each substance. Then, by providing employees with this detailed information, individuals can take the necessary steps to protect themselves from the hazardous substances they may encounter in the workplace. The HCS standard covers both physical hazards, such as those posed by flammable or explosive chemicals, and health hazards, such as chemicals that might cause either acute or chronic health problems. Potential chemical hazards are to be carefully evaluated and clearly marked. Properly labeling hazardous chemical containers was among the top four key areas for which companies were fined. Bantam Distribution, along with manufacturer Brady Labels, provides easy to use tools that can help your company comply with this standard, including ready-to-use Right-To-Know and Safety Information Centers, Industrial Labeling Software and Label Makers, and Hazardous Information placards. For more information on how to save your company time and money by avoiding hefty OSHA fines, check out A Guide to The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, and contact Bantam Distribution for all your safety label and signage needs.