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Faurecia to equip 20,000 Seoul buses and trucks with Amminex NOx reduction technology

2017-06-26 16:55:39| Green Car Congress

Chinese Authorities Push for Reduction in Use of Antibiotics in Poultry, Livestock

2017-06-26 02:00:00| ThePigSite - Industry News

CHINA - Irregularities in the use of antibiotics in poultry and livestock in China will be strictly monitored to reduce drug resistance, according to a national plan released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday.

Tags: chinese reduction push authorities

SETUP REDUCTION BASICS

2017-06-19 12:12:53| Anderson Tool and Die

Two weeks ago we listed some of the steps required to set up a job. With those steps in mind, the first and most important task in setup reduction is to divide those steps into INTERNAL and EXTERNAL setup steps. Simply stated, Internal setup requires the machine be stopped. External setup does not require the machine be stopped. Recall our list of setup steps, and divide that list into those steps that can be done while the machine is running, and those that cannot be done while the machine is running. Of the 37 steps listed (I should have numbered them), only 8 are internal steps, and all the rest are external. The first internal step is number 22: Test load part into machine. Be careful, the distinction between internal and external is based upon needing the machine for the action, not upon whether the setup person is available to perform the task. According to the experts, if we make a serious effort to treat as much of the setup operation as external as possible, then the time needed for internal setup (the time the machine must be stopped) can be reduced by 30% to 50%. Mastering the distinction between internal and external setup, and then performing the external set up during production is the key to SMED. (Setup reduction is often called SMED, shorthand for Single Minute Exchange of Die. The Single Minute means less than 10 minutes). It is also worth emphasizing that, for the purposes of this discussion, setup time is measured in “idle machine-hours”, not man-hours. Per Shigeo Shingo, the recognized master and creator of SMED, “In traditional setup operations, internal and external setup are not separated; what could be done as externally is done as internal setup, and machines therefore remain idle for extended periods”. This passage from Shingo’s SMED book is quoted only to point out that the way we historically have operated is no different than other shops throughout the world. But now that we know the better way, we can, and must improve.To summarize, SMED’s objective is to cut the setup time to zero, thus economically permitting lower quantities per order, faster delivery, and greater varieties of parts per day. If done wisely, it will also cut the total man hours to do setups. Distinguishing internal from external steps is where it all starts. By now everyone is thinking, “How am I going to get all that external setup for the next job done while still running production?” That’s the subject for next week!

Tags: reduction setup basics setup reduction

WHY SET UP REDUCTION

2017-06-19 12:12:53| Anderson Tool and Die

Last week we discussed some of the activities that caused long set up times. Before we begin our discussion about how to reduce set up times, let’s thoroughly understand why we need short set up times. The first benefit is obviously the saving of the “waste” time out of production, which was discussed last week. Since we said we do not get paid for the set up time on the job, this savings is easily understood. The other equally important reason for quick set up is the ability to economically run small quantities of parts. Historically we have wanted to run large quantities of parts so the cost of the set up per part could be low. Customers are no longer willing to accept long waiting times and then take delivery of large quantities of product. They only want to buy, at one time, the amount of product they can consume in a very short period of time. Also, since they do not keep inventory to keep them running, they want quick delivery. This is called “Just In Time” manufacturing. It is the way efficient business works today. Short set up time is the key to economical small lot quantity production. To help explain how critical set up time is to delivery, let’s consider for a moment if set up time could be zero. If set up can be done instantly, then we can make as few parts per order as the customer wants, and then switch over instantly and make other parts for another customer without “wasted machine time during set up” and without concern about the cost of set up. This keeps our customers happy, our “waste” on long set ups low (zero), and keeps our equipment busy making money. In this scenario no one pays the cost for inventory, yet every one keeps their production running efficiently, without wasted down time either waiting for parts or for set up time. The customers are happy, and our business is efficient. Fast set up permits small orders, at low cost, delivered quickly, and the ability to go from one job to the next almost immediately. If there is a secret to success in today’s manufacturing world, short set up times ranks right up there with technological capability as the prime key to success. Even though we may not be able to eliminate set up time completely, as speculated in the above example, we can do many things to minimize set up times. Set up reduction techniques begin next issue.

Tags: set reduction