Continuous improvement has been a cornerstone of our business at Moseys Production Machinists since we trained in Lean Manufacturing a decade ago. Lean has provided our California machine shop with a set of tools to optimize our processes and our metrics, but over the years, we’ve learned that true improvement isn’t always about classic Lean 5S improvements like organized tooling. True continuous improvement requires something deeper: a fundamental shift in culture and mindset among every member of our team.
Our approach has enabled us to operate more efficiently, helping to contain costs and stabilize pricing for our customers even in volatile times. Learn more about our commitment to continuous improvement and how it helps us deliver your next project faster and more cost-effectively.
Building a Culture of Improvement and Efficiency
The journey from initial training a decade ago to today wasn’t a simple flip of a switch. We’ve invested steady effort over the past decade to implement and maintain an improvement mindset.
Hands-on management is a point of emphasis in Lean, and our management team focuses on leading from the floor. We do this not only through “Gemba walks” but by working directly alongside our operators. Many of our supervisors still regularly machine parts themselves to identify practical opportunities to improve our precision machining services firsthand.
Tooling organization is another notable Lean priority. We not only have robust tool management, but our latest initiative is the standardization of our tooling system. We will soon digitize and connect our consumable tool inventory to our ERP and quoting systems. This advancement will enable us to streamline operations and ensure we consistently provide the best possible pricing and value to our customers.
Case Study: Revamping Our Deburring to Reduce Production Time
Organization and floor management are textbook Lean, but it’s critical to find improvements unique to our shop as well. After a decade of effort, production machining services at Moseys have evolved through countless successful initiatives.
Our latest innovation stands out: We recently implemented tooling to perform deburring operations within our machines. This was a major improvement, achieved through careful, methodical steps. We researched the tooling before collaborating with tooling representatives, conducting extensive testing, and evaluating several options. In a project like this, suppliers provide abundant information, but it’s critical for every manufacturer to sort through it to determine what is most relevant to our circumstances.
The implementation process required precise calibration, as tools perform differently across various machines, materials, and projects. Through careful testing and refinement, we’ve developed a nuanced understanding of which tools excel in specific applications. This expertise allows us to reduce production times, and is just one small example of greater efficiency leading to more competitive pricing for our customers.
Why Innovation Requires Buy-In at Every Level
Our dedicated Process Improvement Specialist plays a crucial role in our Lean philosophy. He’s constantly refining processes and enhancing organization. Above all, he’s helping people break out of the mindset of “we’ve always done it this way.”
It’s natural to hesitate when it comes to changing processes, and when we’re so often operating at full capacity, experimenting with new approaches sometimes feels difficult. However, we’ve found success by emphasizing the concrete benefit of process changes as part of our culture of collaboration. Our team knows that increased efficiency simplifies daily tasks, but it does more than that, as well. It creates opportunities to reinvest in our business through new equipment and employee programs.
The Impact on Your Bottom Line
Continuous improvement is never about change for its own sake. These incremental enhancements allow us to contain costs and serve as a more reliable, cost-effective partner for our customers. In an era where supply chain stability is crucial to our partners, our commitment to improvement helps ensure we can efficiently deliver precision machined components of the highest quality at competitive prices.
The value of our CNC machining services stems directly from our culture of excellence. Request a quote today to discuss your next project with our Anaheim machine shop!