The document summarizes efforts to improve operational efficiency (OE) at a textile company's warping department. It describes implementing an electronic downtime reporting system using PLCs and OPC servers to track machine performance. It also details a Lean initiative to better manage case yarn inventory through reducing waste motion and transportation. The initiatives aimed to lower downtime, increase output, and save an estimated $140,000 per year through improved OE.
4. OUTLINE How Does OE Accurately Describe Our Goals? What Is The Value Of Improved OE? What Are The Limiting Factors? What Can Be Done To Improve OE? Back-Bar Waste Analysis Warping Optimization Project Labor Cost-Benefit Analysis LEAN Initiative – Case Yarn Management Future Projects OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY (OE)
26. AFTER INITIATIVE Tasks are performed by separate associate AFTER INITIATIVE Tasks plus Tying In are performed by Yarn Handler
27. Warehouse (Receiving) Purchasing Supplier Warehouse (Balances) Planning Warehouse (Case Yarn Inventory) Warping Department Repack Yarn + Case Yarn (IN) Repack Yarn (OUT) Waste (OUT) Beam Yarn (OUT) Knitting Department Action Information Purchasing/Planning Warehouse/Shipping Warping Department Knitting Department Neutral Staging Areas Supplier LEAN INITIATIVE – CASE YARN MANAGEMENT Warehouse CASE YARN IN Warping Department REPACKS OUT NEUTRAL SITE NEUTRAL SITE
28. GUILFORD EAST FLOOR PLAN SEPARATING/STAGING/LOADING REFERENCE: Guilford East S Drive Common Directory
29. BEFORE DISTANCE TRACKER Outside Staging & Loading Area 2.83 miles 3.41 miles 1.93 miles 2.25 miles 1.86 miles Total (Over 5 Days) = 12.29 miles
30. AFTER DISTANCE TRACKER Outside Staging & Loading Area 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles Total (Over 5 Days) = 0 miles
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Editor's Notes
How Does OE Accurately Describe Our Goals? OE describes the amount we are able to produce on any given day, week, month, or year based on consistently producing certain styles. This production has a value. What Is The Value Of Improved OE? If improvement of OE occurs, it should, and based upon all available data, does correlate to increased production of beam yarn. This beam yarn has a value based upon the purchase value of the case yarn and the resources to produce the beam yarn. Considering that we can improve OE through a larger workforce, better processes, and better machines, the limiting factors that put a ceiling on the usefulness of OE need to be considered. What Are The Limiting Factors? The amount of machines, the amount of space available, the beam set requirements for knitting, the beam yarn need for knitting, and all upstream productivity are the limiting factors that are being considered. If we can improve OE by 10%, will the Knitting Department be able to use this increased amount of beam yarn produced? Yes…and no. As long as the knitting machines are in demand of the styles of beam yarn we can produce, then there should be no diminishing returns from investing in improved OE. At the moment, there is plenty of demand, but the investment in providing that demand must be justified by the value of our marginal returns. What Can Be Done To Improve OE? By priority order, reduced physical and downtime waste, improved labor efficiency, increased labor, and improved machine efficiency will all improve OE. Keep in mind that adding another machine does not necessarily improve the OE as a whole unless the machine was high efficiency and high production. It would however increase our production values which indicates the OE is a fluid variable dependent upon the machines and styles we use.
How Does OE Accurately Describe Our Goals? OE describes the amount we are able to produce on any given day, week, month, or year based on consistently producing certain styles. This production has a value.
What Is The Value Of Improved OE? If improvement of OE occurs, it should, and based upon all available data, does correlate to increased production of beam yarn. This beam yarn has a value based upon the purchase value of the case yarn and the resources to produce the beam yarn. Considering that we can improve OE through a larger workforce, better processes, and better machines, the limiting factors that put a ceiling on the usefulness of OE need to be considered.
What Are The Limiting Factors? The amount of machines, the amount of space available, the beam set requirements for knitting, the beam yarn need for knitting, and all upstream productivity are the limiting factors that are being considered. If we can improve OE by 10%, will the Knitting Department be able to use this increased amount of beam yarn produced? Yes…and no. As long as the knitting machines are in demand of the styles of beam yarn we can produce, then there should be no diminishing returns from investing in improved OE. At the moment, there is plenty of demand, but the investment in providing that demand must be justified by the value of our marginal returns.
What Can Be Done To Improve OE? By priority order, reduced physical and downtime waste, improved labor efficiency, increased labor, and improved machine efficiency will all improve OE. Keep in mind that adding another machine does not necessarily improve the OE as a whole unless the machine was high efficiency and high production. It would however increase our production values which indicates the OE is a fluid variable dependent upon the machines and styles we use.