2. Lean Manufacturing in a Continuous Process G Mérian 5/3/04

3. A lean approach in a continuous process

4. A Flooring company For Residential & Commercial North America – West & East Europe Mainly cushion floor 20 plants ; 7000 people

5. A typical line : 400 meters long From a glass fibre film to many 25 meters Finished G. rolls

6. No intermediate stocks No stream value analysis in the plant No Hoshin workshop No possibility to double an intermediate capacity Some consequences :

7. But the same questions : Is my process and its steps : Valuable => (wastes) Available => (TPM) Flexible => (Smed) Capable => (SPC) => Almost the same tools ?

8. Tracking Board, is a way to create tension in the line ? GAP (line or part of it ?) People have time (tension ?) Batch sizes (when you run, keep running….) Some specifics :

9. Leaning towards Lean Manufacturing even in a Continuous process is a Continuous Improvement Program