Lean Management: 3 Critical Topics We Focused on
We Care about Lean Management
As a human-driven company, KYMC values the growth of our employees. We encourage our team members to pursue continuous development so that we can consistently deliver total solutions to our customers through building innovative customized machines at an affordable price. Our goal is to provide flexographic printing press and coating & Lamination solutions for packaging and the flexible electronics industry with the most efficient processes. Furthermore, we aim to help our customers boost their operational efficiency with KYMC machines. Therefore, we conducted internal training on three critical topics to leverage lean management: 1) reducing waste, 2) achieving information transparency across the supply chain, and 3) continuous improvement.
Reducing Waste
At the core of lean management is the reduction of waste, which focuses on producing things that are needed at the right time and in the right quantity. During the training, KYMC team members discussed activities that do not provide value, which are considered waste in our flexography, coating & lamination equipment production. The same applies to customers running a KYMC machine. If it does not add value, then it is considered a form of waste. Team members examined the potential waste creation areas including inventory, transportation, operational motion, waiting time, overproduction, overprocessing and defects. KYMC plans to utilize lean methods to simplify and optimize various operational processes, aiming to facilitate smoother transmission of information flow, material flow, and cash flow. This would achieve a shorter lead time for flexographic press and coating & lamination equipment. At the same time, spare parts will always be available for our customers with a more accurate forecasting system. In terms of reducing time of supervising, KYMC machines are equipped with smart production monitoring systems that function as a digital kanban, displaying the crucial historical OEE data alongside real-time job information, including the setup for printing units, ink management, and a live view for auto splicing and auto washing. KYMC will continue to minimize waste during our press manufacturing processes and help our customers reduce waste when running the machine.
Information transparency
Achieving information transparency across the supply chain will aid in identifying waste. KYMC team members discussed how our Industry 4.0-ready equipment can support our customers by enabling data integration between digital systems and sales operations. This integration allows for seamless data sharing from external procurement to internal planning and production, through product delivery and all the way to aftersales service. The transparency of information helps to optimize the balance between quality, cost and lead time. At KMYC, we are investing resources to integrate more seamlessly with our suppliers and customers, creating value that enhances the efficiency of their production processes. Learn more about the OPC UA data exchange protocol used on the KYMC flexographic press and coating & lamination machines. This supports communication between devices, different machines, and enterprise systems such as ERP, SCADA, and CRM.
Continuous improvement
Reducing waste within a data-transparent ecosystem should be an ongoing effort. The lean management concept of KAIZEN is explored during the training. This approach emphasizes a systematic method for continuously reducing waste every day, everywhere, and by everyone to create value for our customers. We aim to view problems as opportunities for improvement. Post-training, KYMC will adopt systematic methodologies from both a digital system point of view and a management perspective to carry out continuous improvement. Digital system upgrades will be conducted, while management perspective frameworks such as PDCA, 5S, Value Stream Mapping and Value Steam Design will be encouraged.
KYMC is committed to creating greater value for our customers. At KYMC, we serve, we strive, and we never yield. Continuous improvement is at the heart of our mission to systematically reduce waste. We see ourselves as more than just a provider of flexographic presses, and coating & Lamination equipment for the packaging and flexible electronics industry. KYMC is a solution provider and partner dedicated to growing alongside our customers.
