Study shows unexpected sources of motion and inventory waste in manufacturing sites
Published: 07 November, 2022
Research conducted by the Tork brand reveals that a large number of machine operators are needlessly interrupted at least 20 times during their workday by having to fetch or dispose of wiping and cleaning products.
Furthermore, the study reveals that operators often take more wipers than needed to avoid these interruptions. In an effort to help companies combat waste, Tork has created the free Tork Motion Waste Calculator that allows companies to measure the impact of ineffective wiper placement.
Reducing waste in order to increase productivity is a core principle of Lean Manufacturing. Reductions in motion and inventory waste can come from unexpected places. As a part of its work to better understand how to improve manufacturing efficiency, Tork, an Essity brand, conducted a study on this topic. The results show that the placement of wipers, if not optimised, can generate both motion and inventory waste as well as cause stress among workers.
The study shows that:
• 44% of machine operators are interrupted at least 20 times during a workday to walk and fetch or dispose of wipers.
• 74% of machine operators take more wipers than needed for the task to avoid having to walk and fetch more each time.
• 69% of machine operators state that they get stressed if they are interrupted in their work when having a lot to do.
• 90% of machine operators say that if they were provided with professional industrial wipers close-by, it would help their workplace organisation and work satisfaction.
Tork Performance dispensing system - designed to fit every task
The solution to the problem is to place the wipers at the workstation so that the machine operators don’t have to walk any distance to fetch them. But as manufacturing environments are varied it can be difficult to find a solution that fits every company. That’s why Tork Performance® dispensers have been designed with a range of unique and flexible mounting options, allowing them to be placed where they are needed the most – within reach of the machine operator. This design feature effectively removes the root cause of the motion and inventory waste shown by the study.
“Thanks to our understanding of the manufacturing environment, we are in a position to not only help companies identify new sources of waste, but also to provide them with a solution to the problem. Our innovative products can help companies continuously improve by reducing motion and inventory waste,” says Jenny Turner, marketing director - industry
New easy-to-use tool - motion waste calculator
In its efforts to support customers in their quest to reduce waste, Tork has developed a new easy-to-use tool: the Tork Motion Waste Calculator. This web-based tool will allow companies to get a quick understanding of how much the placement of dispensers really impacts the daily work of operators.
Click here to try the calculator www.tork.co.uk/reducewaste and learn more about how to reduce motion and inventory waste and explore the Tork Performance dispensing system
