Omaha, NE

Practice Area:
Manufacturing Systems - Lean Manufacturing Company Profile:
Designer Blinds is a custom windows fashion manufacturer with an expanding custom production volume. they provide product in a 3 day customer lead time market with less than a 1/2 shift throughput time. The market is extremely competitive. They have infinite variations of the product available.

Situation:
Designer Blinds has had significant growth in volume and it has stress production capacity. Investment in capital equipment was improving quality and making incremental gains in productivity.

Solution:
NMEP offered to do a Value Stream Mapping and Field event (202 and 302) with 1/2 the seats open to the public. Collaboration between various implementors in different companies fueled several improvement ideas for the metal blind area.

Results:
Square footage was reduced by 15%. Production output doubled with the same staff and equipment by the elimination of waste of motion, handling. The investment was minimal in relayout, 5S and some minor scheduling grouping affecting color to improve change over time.

Testimonial:
The results are fantastic. I never would have believed it if I had not done it myself. We can't wait to get started in other areas of the plant. Thank-you and come and visit anytime.