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Series of Kaizen Events Opens Up Communication Lines, Clears Clutter
Anaheim, CA - L-3 Communications is a company on the move and in demand. They are a leading merchant supplier of secure communications technology, guidance and navigation systems, and microwave components and have significant opportunities to grow. Their customers include the United States Department of Defense, selected government agencies, and aerospace contractors, like Boeing, the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined.
Recently, Boeing contracted with Time Wise Management Systems (TWMS) to pilot a program for a small number of key suppliers, including L-3 Communications, to partake in a supplier integration process improvement program. This program included a Time Wise Value Stream Management Systems (VSMS) mapping session to show each factory’s product and process flow. This helps a company determine a more efficient layout. Each company then performed Kaizen events, short bursts of activity to make small improvements with a goal of making large gains in efficiency and productivity.
"As part of this program, we completed one Kaizen event, with the goal of decreasing the lead time request for quotes and improve overall product quality,’ said Ali Siddiqui of L-3 Communications. "We wanted to make sure all our departments were in sync with one another, to ensure there would not be any late deliveries with our product or any loss in revenue."
Diane Morrissey and the TWMS team assisted in this task with the development of a VSMS session, which streamlined their request for quotes process. Diane Morrissey helped the L-3 Communications team develop a color-coded tracking system to keep the requests orderly, which improved communication between all departments.
"After working with the request for quote team, our focus shifted to the factory floor, where we completed three Kaizen events," said Morrissey of TWMS. "The shipping and receiving team was able to improve cleanliness of the floor, remove the clutter, and freed up space for themselves as well as the magnetics products specialties team."
"The success at L-3 is contagious. Even the teams who were not scheduled for Kaizen events successfully went through the steps on their own, and have reported substantial improvements," said Siddiqui. "We’d like to thank TWMS for helping us save time in our work day, and help us to continually go above and beyond when it comes to servicing our customers." (For more information contact Ali Siddiqui at 714-956-9200.)