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Time Wise® Success Stories
The following is a Lean Case Study from our MEP MSI-managed family of Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) that demonstrates the impact of the Time Wise® Management Systems’ Lean transformation methodology deployed through Time Wise® Solutions training products.
Owner Bruce Pulkkinen was very familiar with the MEP program and the many services it offers to manufacturers in Maine. "In fact," Pulkkinen said, Windham Millwork is now in its third project with the Maine MEP and we intend to continue to work with them as we continue our quest to become a world-class manufacturer."
To that end, Windham Millwork, which manufactures custom cabinetry, is now in the process of initiating Time Wise Principles of Lean Manufacturing through the plant. "The results have already been rewarding," Pulkkinen said. "It’s amazing how the lean program has eliminated waste and freed up space which can be utilized for new product lines."
Maine MEP introduced the company to Lean Manufacturing, followed by a facilitation of Time Wise Value Stream Management System session. Pulkkinen said it has worked and the results may best be found in the numbers. "Product throughput time has been reduced from 10 days to 4 days," he said, "while labor per cabinet has been reduced by at least 20 percent."
The process resulted in labor cost savings in excess of $140,000 per year in the cabinet making department alone, while improvements in the bid-to-design process has meant a reduction in the process of at least 33 percent, which has reduced re-entering errors and saved $30,000 a year.
"Lean Manufacturing introduced by the Maine MEP has made us even more quality conscious," he said. "We do a lot more inspection of our own work and we are looking to save dollars in the production process without reducing employment. In fact our goal from the beginning was to free up space to allow us to increase employment and sales volume."
In addition, the company has been able to move its entire counter top department into a space resulting from an improved factory layout. "This has allowed us to grow by adding additional custom craftsmen into the vacated counter space," Pulkkinen said. "We now have a backlog in place and anticipate growing the company by 30 percent this year. That would not have been possible without utilizing our plant more efficiently."
The Lean success story you have just read is an actual case study from one of our MEP MSI-managed state MEP centers. Our affiliate MEPs utilize the Time Wise® Management Systems’ Lean transformation methodology based on world class Time Wise® Solutions training products. MSI-managed MEP center project managers are vetted and trained at the Time Wise® Institute and receive access to a full suite of integrated Time Wise® products.
Our certified Lean-trained project implementation facilitators work with a company's management team to identify conditions that impede the ability to become more competitive and prosperous. During intensive hands-on training sessions with employees at all levels of the organization, our certified Time Wise® MEP specialists solve specific problems from the shop floor to the front office and assess how well each department contributes to overall productivity and profitability. Essential tools are furnished to optimize performance and provide guidance so that companies can use those tools and systems effectively on their own to sustain the improvement process.
Since our MEP affiliates have begun utilizing the Time Wise® Solutions suite of products, their performance has increased significantly. Just a fraction of the accomplishments of our affiliate state MEP centers have been reported on our web site. Click here to read additional success stories.
To learn more about Time Wise® Solutions products or to join the Time Wise® Management Systems team of MEP Centers, please call 1-866-USA-MADE (1-866-872-6233) or email us at: info@timewisems.com.
Our certified Lean-trained project implementation facilitators work with a company's management team to identify conditions that impede the ability to become more competitive and prosperous. During intensive hands-on training sessions with employees at all levels of the organization, our certified Time Wise® MEP specialists solve specific problems from the shop floor to the front office and assess how well each department contributes to overall productivity and profitability. Essential tools are furnished to optimize performance and provide guidance so that companies can use those tools and systems effectively on their own to sustain the improvement process.
Since our MEP affiliates have begun utilizing the Time Wise® Solutions suite of products, their performance has increased significantly. Just a fraction of the accomplishments of our affiliate state MEP centers have been reported on our web site. Click here to read additional success stories.
To learn more about Time Wise® Solutions products or to join the Time Wise® Management Systems team of MEP Centers, please call 1-866-USA-MADE (1-866-872-6233) or email us at: info@timewisems.com.