Press Release: Keep It Simple to Make It Better: METTLER TOLEDO Explains Lean Principles

What is one-piece flow and why it is time to implement this critical “lean” concept? One-piece flow encourages simplified processes, shorter run-times and less waste. A new application note from METTLER TOLEDO describes how implementing this and other lean principles can lower costs and increase quality. 

Greifensee, 01^st February, 2018 – Products and services subject to batch processing – for example, manufacturing or routine lab tasks – must often wait for an entire batch to finish before proceeding to the next step. Goods may be stored until further processing or, as is the case for precious metals, may need to wait for characterization measurements such as titration to take place.

While considered a popular way to handle these types of measurements, batch processing may only offer about 10 percent in time-savings with the steps themselves, and it can actually cause longer throughput times and more inventory handling and storage. This is because batch processing frequently requires more lab space and staff to fulfill demand, neither of which serve to make a process lean.