Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center Works with Magline in Value Stream Mapping Projects

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) expert Roger Tomlinson, is working closely with Jim Gage Plant Manager at Magline to conduct various lean manufacturing actions to ensure best practices, heightened efficiency, and elimination of waste.

There are two primary activities being conducted at the Magline Standish, Michigan headquarters.  Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and Kaizen events.  Value stream mapping is a lean-management method for analyzing the current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or service from its beginning through to the customer. Kaizen events used in the business sense and applied to the workplace, refers to activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees from the CEO to the assembly line workers. It also applies to processes, such as purchasing and logistics, that cross organizational boundaries into the supply chain.  By improving standardized activities and processes, kaizen aims to eliminate waste, the hallmark of lean manufacturing.

The current VSM projects being conducted by MMTC including the Kaizen Slider Ramp Process.  These are each being followed by corresponding Kaizen events.  According to Gage, “This first event focused primarily around the assembly operation and two main goals.  One, the distance product traveled before the final product got staged into shipping and the second goal doubling daily throughput.  Through both the VSM process and the Kaizen events, data and time studies were gathered and determined that by moving the assembly process to a different location on the plant floor a 50% reduction in wasted material movement could be achieved, including a larger footprint to allow better staging and preparation for assembly.”

The team members also looked at other areas of waste and made improvements to the area by adding conveyors and swivel tables to help ergonomics for the operator. 

About MMTC, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center:

Since 1991, MMTC has assisted Michigan’s small and medium-sized businesses compete and grow. MMTC is part of the NIST MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) program.

About Magline:

As a leader in the material handling industry, Magline, Inc. is committed to creating innovative solutions that help people transport materials more safely and efficiently. For nearly seven decades, this commitment translates to creating exceptional products and service experience earning long-term customer loyalty. Magline, the manufacturer of the innovative CooLift Delivery System, the new ergonomic LiftPlus technology, and Glyde staircase solution, designs solutions to help companies move more product in less time, safely.

Magline understands the unique material handling requirements of product movement and remains at the forefront of designing aluminum equipment worldwide.  Dynamic leadership ensures the Michigan-based manufacturer is consistently introducing innovative products and services, driven by customer needs and industry insights. Magline’s industry knowledge and expertise has evolved into a compelling customer value proposition.

For more information, go to: www.magliner.com/innovation

Follow Magline on Twitter @MaglineInc

Media Contact
Company Name: Magline Inc.
Contact Person: Andrea Horner, Vice President of Marketing
Email: PR@magliner.com
Phone: 800-344-3646 x209
Address:1205 W. Cedar St.
City: Standish
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Website: http://www.magliner.com/