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Thanks to all who attended our February Open House! Congratulations to our winners: Custom-configured workstation : R. Brainard - Netstreams, Brady ID Pal : C. Crumbliss - KLRU, Microsoft multimedia keyboard : S. Kodukula - Enflite, Microsoft LifeCam : J. Karol - Tri-Kes, Microsoft Windows Live OneCare : T. Shroud - SMRC, Microsoft Windows Live OneCare : D. Stary - Stary Enterprises, Microsoft MapPoint : G. Perez - Silicon Hills Keys to Sustaining 5S Last month, our newsletter addressed of the most common lean manufacturing principles, the 5S System. The 5S system is a workplace organization and housekeeping system that is generally the first system applied when pursuing Lean Manufacturing. The 5S's are: Sort, Set In Place, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. There are three key factors to sustaining 5S successfully: First, people have to be motivated to change. Human beings resist change when it is done to them but are more likely to accept change when they are involved and the change is meaningful to them. Implementing any change in the workplace, including the 5S system, is no different. Consider the notion of someone else cleaning out your desk or workstation. They might throw out things you need, or place items you use frequently in a fashion inconvenient for your work flow. When employees are encouraged to be a part of the 5S implementation, they will create ownership of the plan as something that works on their behalf. Allow employees and machine operators to determine where their tools go and they will stay there. Secondly, 5S activity should clearly be linked to the team's performance goals. Encourage and assist employees in setting their own goals that are in line with their department and company goals. Help staff to see that 5S reduces set up time and increases pounds produced per labor hour, and good 5S will be sustained Finally, audit. For some of us the natural state of our desk or workstation is clutter. It is human nature to let a little disorder go unnoticed until a client takes a tour. Use the 5S check list to go through each area at least monthly and post scores with recommendations for improvement. Recognize top performers in an effort to show employees that the system is important to you and the success of the company. While these tactics seem simple, sticking to the basics and executing them flawlessly is one of the quickest ways to success when implementing lean manufacturing and the 5s?s. Bantam Distribution Bantam provides everything from tools for your 5S workstation to labels and label makers used for efficiency from leading manufacturers. Visit Vendor Managed Inventory Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is a business model in which the buyer of a product provides certain information to a supplier of that product and the supplier takes full responsibility for maintaining an agreed inventory of the material, usually at the buyer's consumption location. A third party logistics provider is involved who makes sure that the buyer has the required level of inventory by adjusting the demand and supply gaps. VMI technicians assume responsibility for inventory planning and replenishing stock when it is low. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) systems came into vogue in the 1990?s as a way to decrease supply chain costs. Under VMI, suppliers and customers can recognized and focus on how to sell more product to the end user more efficiently. It changes the focus of a supplier from getting a customer to buy more to getting a customer to sell more. This is the most exciting feature of a VMI plan. A VMI plan is beneficial in reducing administrative costs, lowering inventories, and better, more efficient workflow. While launching a successful VMI plan takes some work, if implemented correctly, it can make a very effective difference for both parties. If you are interested in learning more about Vendor Managed Inventory for your organization visit the Vendor Managed Inventory website. Additionally, call Bantam Distribution at 512.719.3560 to see how a VMI plan can benefit you. Bantam provides a number of consumable products ideally suited for a VMI plan including consumables from 3M, Brady, Kester, Techspray, and MG Chemicals.