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An Excellent Step Toward Reaching Goals: Lean Principles & Tools

About

Since 2008, Creative Electron of San Marcos, California, has manufactured digital X-ray inspection systems for a variety of industries including military, aerospace, medical device, and automotive. The company’s innovative X-ray systems reduce quality issues and improve inspections to solve commercial and industrial challenges. To meet customers’ needs, Creative Electron produces a range of standard systems as well as minimally, to fully customized systems.

The Challenge

Creative Electron needed assistance to increase throughput in order to keep up with production demand. CMTC, part of the MEP National Network™, was called in to help.

CMTC was extremely helpful in setting up customized training for our manufacturing team. Having the whole team speaking the same Lean Manufacturing language has improved our communication and will help us increase efficiency.

— Mariem Ortiz, VP of Operations

MEP's Role

CMTC recommended an approach that included training key production team members on lean manufacturing concepts in order to better ensure buy-in, provide the team with the knowledge and skills to continually improve and sustain gains, and begin laying the foundation for transforming to a lean company. Creative Electron’s management team understood the critical importance of developing a lean mindset and collaborative company culture within its workforce - all with the goal of increasing and sustaining efficiency, cost savings and improving customer satisfaction.

From January to March 2021, CMTC provided virtual and onsite training to help Creative Electron create a lean culture within its production team. The lean concepts training and implementation project was designed to improve communication and team skills and to build awareness of lean principles and basic lean tools. CMTC facilitated successful implementation of improvements with input from the team.

 

Created April 27, 2022