Birth of a production cell – a case study on value stream alignment, and converting waste into additional production capacity.

The existing batch and queue production approach was causing significant waste, quality problems, and inventory management nightmares with the production of Ledalite’s sheet metal housing assembly.  Review of the approach taken to map the current state, propose and implement the future state, and promote continuous improvement. Challenges encountered, results achieved and next steps. 

Jim Moloney P.Eng.

Jim is a Manufacturing Engineering professional with 20 years of diverse manufacturing experience in the areas of New Product Development, Production Management, Project Management and Lean Manufacturing implementation.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Jim has worked previously for Questair Technologies (now Xebec), and Hitachi Canadian Industries, and returned to Ledalite for a 2^nd shift in 2008. Ledalite, a Philips group brand, is a manufacturer of specification grade commercial lighting products. They employ a passionate, highly-experienced team of professionals, based out of their 210,000 ft2 manufacturing facility in Langley, British Columbia.        

An example of an effective cell implementation, and perhaps the inspiration to give it a go yourself.