Lean times call for lean concepts.(how lean manufacturing can aid the paperboard industry, US)

Official Board Markets, October, 2002 by Durkalski, Esther

In this tight economy, converters are eager for ways to reduce makeready times and eliminate waste, spoilage and downtime while increasing production throughput. One way to achieve all of these is through lean manufacturing, says Ken Rizzo, process improvement coordinator of Gulf States Paper Corp. Rizzo spoke to about 100 attendees at the Paperboard Packaging Council's (PPC) Fall Meeting, Oct. 17-19, in Hilton Head, S.C.

Lean manufacturing is a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste and non-value-added activities. Goals are achieved through continuous improvement by flowing the product at the pull of the customer in pursuit of perfection.

There are four Key components to lean manufacturing. They are value stream mapping, the...