Are you interested in a lean manufacturing process? If you apply the lean philosophy in your company, you will be working as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. And let that be exactly what Meyland stands for: maximum efficiency. We will show you how our storage and transport systems help you practice lean manufacturing.
What is lean manufacturing?
Lean manufacturing is a manufacturing method that reduces waste and optimizes productivity in the production process. We define waste as anything that does not add value and that your customers are not willing to pay for. Think waste of time, material and labor.
What are the benefits of lean manufacturing?
- less production cost – Less waste means faster and more efficient production. Thus, the production cost per unit will decrease.
- more quality – Optimizing your production process will also improve the quality of your products and services.
- more customer satisfaction – Lean manufacturing means making your processes more responsive to your customers’ needs. They will certainly appreciate your efforts.
Here’s how to get started with lean manufacturing
Take a thorough look at your manufacturing process. You do this by drawing up a process flow diagram (PFD). Don’t have the knowledge in-house? Our engineers will be happy to do it for you.
Once you have your process mapped out, analyze which activities and processes add value. Do you find elements that create waste? If so, look for a more efficient alternative. Get inspiration from Meyland’s examples.
5 lean solutions against waste
Meyland’s storage and transport systems are designed to be efficient and cost-effective. We build customized systems that perfectly meet your needs and expectations. With the following five solutions, we ensure minimum waste.
1. Dust filters in open systems
Transporting products such as dry mortar or sand often generates dust. Especially when dumping the product from conveyor belt to conveyor belt. That’s why Meyland installs compact dust filters that suck up the dust and reintroduce it into the production stream. This ensures that as little of the product is lost as possible.
Not only do our dust filters prevent waste, they also prevent the dust from entering nature. A great example are the mobile Discharge Hoppers with dust filters we installed for the Kenyan port company Kenya Ports Authority.
2. Closed systems
Want to reduce waste even more? Then it’s best to choose a closed conveyor system such as a chain conveyor. This type of system takes your dry products out of a bunker or silo and pulls them forward through a closed channel. Since nothing can get out, you also have no waste.
Meyland also has closed conveyors. These are ideal for moving powdered and granular products without losing product. Does something fall off the belt anyway? Then it is collected on both sides by a drum that adds the spilled product back into the production flow.
3. Residual elevators
There are also options for vertical transport to minimize waste. For this there is the restless elevator. This elevator scoops up the product via cups in the base of the elevator and ensures that these are emptied optimally at the top. By properly adjusting the distance between the bottom of the elevator and the cups, the product cannot remain at the base. Ideal for preventing waste with light and fine products.
4. Customized transportation systems
Lean manufacturing is about creating maximum value for the customer. That’s why it’s essential to put your customers’ needs at the forefront of your production process. With a transport system that is precisely set to the right mass per hour, the flow of your logistics process runs smoothly. This way, you will not produce too little, but also not too much.
How we help. You tell us how many tons per hour you want to move. We build the appropriate machines and adjust them to the desired capacity. So you have a perfect turn-key solution tailored to your project.
5. Transport system instead of trucks
Do you sometimes use trucks for your internal transport? Then chances are you are using unnecessary time and labor resources when it could be simpler. A conveyor belt, screw conveyor or chain conveyor bridges long distances and can be easily adjusted to the correct capacity. This guarantees that your products arrive quickly and at the push of a button.
Project: transport system of 800 meters by land and water
One of our customers was looking for a way to move a large amount of clay soil. The most economical option was to apply the clay soil by ship, but then they still had to cross 800 meters by water and land. Trucks would take more time, energy and money. Our conveyors offered a lean alternative.
Meyland engineers built four conveyors that departed from a pontoon on the water. This moved 400 tons of clay soil per hour. The benefits?
- time savings – The large amount of soil did not have to cross the highway.
- lower cost – Landing via ship and conveyor was the most economical option.
- less manpower – The conveyors took on the bulk of the transportation work.
Need help with your lean manufacturing process?
Our machines and equipment are tuned to make your production process smooth and efficient. Do you want to engage in lean manufacturing? Get in touch with Meyland. Our engineers will find the right solution to your problem.