Access Laser

Optimizing Inventory/WIP Management to Reduce NonValue Added Inventory Processing Time

Access Laser Company has identified a couple of concerns with the management of inventory in the build area: Issue 1: They spend X hours of labor kitting per part - NVA (non value add time) Issue 2: They have quality issues including misspicks, misskits, running out of inventory, damaged parts, etc. Issue 3: They have additional NVA time as in-between work steps as lasers have no standard area so they spend time organizing and hunting for parts/wip This student team worked to analyze and suggest modifications to Access Laser's layout, inventory management style, and/or work design that minimize NVA when it comes to processing WIP and inventory. The student team also worked to consider quality improvement and a process to mitigate work stoppage due to running out of material, and to accomplish tangible improvement of Cycle Time. The student team also sought to create a WIP visualization and status board to easily identify where a laser is at any given time.