Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Test

Based on global warming and other environmental issues, heart-throbbing for a new generation of sports cars as they being very few of them at present, the fundamental need has been increasing more for automobiles from the past several years. So based on these needs, TMC (Toyota Motor Company) has developed the Toyota FT-86 Concept (same as “Future Toyota 86 Concept”) and set to debut in Nov 2009 Tokyo Motor Show with a flash red finish.
The Toyota FT-86 Concept is a compact, stylish and rear-wheel drive sports car model developed by TMC equipped with a 2000cc, horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder gasoline engine that embodies the joy of vehicle ownership and the driving pleasure which gives automobiles the essential appeal as well as the environmental performance. Overall car dimensions includes 163.7 inches in length, 69.3 inches in width, a wheelbase of 101.2 inches, and 49.6 inches in height( 4,160mm in length, 1,760mm in width, 1,260mm in height and 2,570mm of wheelbase), which optimizes light-weight appearance and the seating can accommodate four occupants and driver feels comfortable while handling this car. This car includes ADVICS brakes and the engine is linked with a rear-wheel drive system and horsepower will be between 200 and 250, six-speed transmission (manual system).
The elegant toyota concept seizes car lovers with its functional utility. TMC seeks to focus and develop the ultimate environmentally-considerate vehicle or the joy of ownership without losing sight of the automobile appeal.
This compact car is the creative product from Toyota Europe Design Development (ED2), designed with high refined body lines and also with better vehicle control to the driver along with additional features of low center of gravity and aerodynamics. FT-86 Concept has distinctive interior features: Measure the relative position with red neon lights and digital displays, a navigation system, instrument panel with a gray and white base and a Zipper.
Toyota FT-86 Concept is not either a hybrid or an electric sports vehicle, but a must-see stylish race-car like model designed by ED2 and estimated price is about $20,000.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

What does lean manufacturing means?

What does lean manufacturing means? Ever thought about the new trend buzzing the manufacturing market.

Lean manufacturing, which is often known simply as "Lean", is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination. Almost every big player in the manufacturing industry has heard about it and some have even implemented the basic lean foundation and principles for their particular units. Big manufacturing units are in various stages of implementing the Lean manufacturing principle. Some production houses have implemented it and are seeking the reasons for what went wrong with the implementation of the principle which resulted into the result which they were not seeking. And some are continuously developing their foundation before implementing it. Lean, as a concept or brand, has captured the imagination of many in different spheres of activity.

The key to success of the lean manufacturing is not an overnight miracle attained but is a step by step journey towards the success. There are no magic wands for the success of lean manufacturing which is sold on every corner of the market. If it was to be, then every firm owner would have been at the doorsteps of the success.

Lean manufacturing is a variation on the theme of efficiency based on optimizing flow, it is a present-day instance of the recurring theme in human history toward increasing efficiency, decreasing waste, and using empirical methods to decide what matters, rather than uncritically accepting pre-existing ideas. Lean begins from the top players of the firm. The role of the leaders within the organization is the fundamental element of sustaining the progress of lean thinking. They must posses the vision to understand the customer requirement and the profits for the company, and keeping them in view should look for the resources. If there is any mismatch in the demand and the resources then it would then result to the failure of the lean manufacturing.

Working from the perspective of the customer who consumes a product or service, "value" is defined as any action or process that a customer would be willing to pay for. Basically, lean is centered on creating more value with less work.

According to the business we have to decide on our requirements. A business with large no of employees involved in the firm means a large requirement and with less number of employees the requirements will be less.

To understand the lean manufacturing we have to get it right that it is a journey towards success. To lead towards the state of ‘LEAN’, a firm has to follow the set principles of lean manufacturing. If you are thinking for “Headcount reduction”, then you are picking up the wrong concept. Any decision regarding the “Headcount reduction” should be done prior to implementing the lean concept.

This concept intrudes everyone in the firm to remove all the waste in the system. While the elimination of waste may seem like a simple and clear subject it is noticeable that waste is often very conservatively identified. This then hugely reduces the potential of such an aim. The elimination of waste is the goal of Lean. The Lean manufacturing defined eight types of waste. Of them the three broad type of waste are as : muda, muri and mura. It should be noted that for many Lean implementations this list shrinks to the last waste type only with corresponding benefits decrease. Everyone in the firm should work out for the implementation of Lean system.

One piece flow is another system utilized in lean manufacturing. Therefore SMED (single minute exchange of die) systems must be employed to reduce changeover times.

Other lean concepts utilized in the journey include “pull systems”, “cellular manufacturing”, “kanban”, OEE (overall equipment effectiveness), TPM (total productive maintenance), error proofing, root cause elimination, and many others.

These systems require the employee’s effort to be successful for the success of lean manufacturing concept. And they should look towards the success of journey, without fear of loosing their respective job. Once employees feel they can trust management and the fear does not stand any more for any perspective, the lean journey towards success can begin. The journey begins with training and it never stops.

Lean manufacture is not a concept which can be implemented by few individuals of the firm but it is a collective implementation of every worker from the firm who is involved directly or indirectly towards the progress.

Owners of the firms or the management are always taken as “cost cutters” by the employees, so it should be cleared to the employees that how in the long run the cost is expected to come down. Lean is about more than just cutting costs in the factory. A clear vision of the status of the firm should be explained to every employee and what decision is taken by them and how it would help them to achieve the goal of success and what it means for the business. Decreasing the cost would help the firm to sell more products which means a good business for the firm. Existing jobs are saved in the process and could also lead to increase hiring.

Once the employees are told about the goals of the firm, then the training could begin with the basics. This would help the firm as the employees are involved in the journey towards the success of the lean manufacturing