Phase 1: Shop-Floor Diagnostics
Instead of relying on reports, the consulting team:
- Measured actual machine availability
- Tracked downtime manually across shifts
- Observed operator movement
- Value stream mapping
Key insight:
Machines were available, but effective utilization was missing.
Downtime was mainly due to:
- Waiting for material
- Changeovers
- Overdependence on Operator
- Poor job sequencing
Phase 2: Identifying the Bottleneck
One process step was feeding multiple downstream operations. Any delay resulted in:
- Queues
- Idle time
- End-of-shift firefighting
This silent bottleneck had existed for years but was never formally identified.
Phase 3: Process Stabilization (Without Additional Investment)
Instead of recommending new machinery, the focus was on:
- Standardizing changeover activities
- Redesigning procedures and SOPs.
- Aligning maintenance with failure patterns
- Assigning clear ownership at bottleneck points
Small operational changes created disproportionately large impact.
Phase 4: Daily Performance Visibility
Key improvements included:
- Simple daily performance boards
- Shift-wise output and loss tracking
- Short, fact-based review meetings
Supervisors stopped reacting emotionally. Operators clearly understood expectations.
The Outcome
Within weeks:
- Output increased without additional shifts
- Overtime reduced significantly
- Rework dropped
- Production planning became realistic
Most importantly, control returned to the shop floor.