Ramp it up: Ricoh relying on software to squash production bottlenecks
MBT Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 10/3/2007
Copier manufacturer Ricoh is counting on software that helps identify and manage production constraints to accelerate the ramp-up of new toner production lines at its United Kingdom operations.Ricoh’s faith in the Throughput Analyzer package from Activplant stems from its positive experience with Activplant’s Performance Management System in other Ricoh facilities. Activplant Performance Management is an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) platform. It offers a central repository for collecting data from production-oriented systems, along with tools for analyzing the data to assess the performance of production processes.
Throughput Analyzer offers the capability for pinpointing constraints—areas such as activities or machines that are slowing production processes. Production managers can use that information to develop methods for eliminating the constraints, thus improving the plant’s ability to produce more goods within a given time frame.
Ricoh management expects Throughput Analyzer to identify and prioritize chronic constraints. If the system works as planned, Ricoh’s plant personnel will be able to implement processes that result in the largest possible gains in production throughput.
Activplant President Chuck Frosst says Throughput Analyzer allows manufacturers to make every minute of the workday count. “It leverages plant-floor information with the express purpose of putting lost minutes of production back into our customers’ day,” he says. “The application filters through and focuses continuous-improvement teams on those constraints that are chronic, enabling them to make corrections that result in a dramatic increase in throughput and efficiency.”
“We’re very excited about the introduction of Throughput Analyzer in our facility,” says Richard Aston, Ricoh senior engineer. “The application has the potential to accelerate the toner line’s ramp-up process by increasing product throughput and driving operational improvements that will lead to lasting efficiency gains.”
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