New Flyers Industries

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Direct Observations

Lean operational techniques were apparent across the company as previously discussed. Further examples are those of implementing 5s through operations. Labeling and organizing all tools and equipment to ensure no clutter grows within the work area, and allows for quick visual cues if there is anything out of place (See Appendix A, vi.).

Another example of NFI using lean to improve processes would be when the company was having problems with fire alarms being triggered due to poor ventilation in a welding section of the factory. The management realized something was to be done or else there would be continuous loss of work due to potential fires. This was also a concern for the health and safety of the workers in the factory. Managers and workers alike realized that there had to be better ventilation and decided on a method that would work best. NFI had also decided on installing a garage door to ensure no fumes enter or exit the welding shop to ensure the health and safety of all workers. With the garage door NFI created a policy that all personnel within the welding shop must wear respirators. This example shows the lean processes of working together from the lower levels up to come up with a feasible solution, striving for true north.

The leadership at NFI feels as though they’re excited to learn and develop new processes but don’t fully understand what lean is. I say this because during the tour they mentioned about how lean is a set of tools to improve processes, nothing about the mentality of the ideology. Perhaps this is a case of needing to further develop lean at the supervisor/managerial level, maybe those at the executive level are implementing this ideology and it hasn’t reached the lower levels completely. This is also apparent by training people with the six sigma belt systems, it almost seems like NFI is collecting belts to say they’re trained in lean operations. Overall NFI is on the direction to fully developing a mentality of constant improvement, and indeed their current development of lean operations has shown great organizational improvements. It was an amazing opportunity to attend New Flyer Industries to see an organization that has grasped to the idea of lean and is currently striving to find their true north. One of my greatest takeaways was that you truly need all members of an organization to be on board to achieve any sort of sustainable lean operations.