To understand the impact of the 40mm white steel roller track, let's look at a real-world example of a factory that produces wireless keyboards.
Before implementing the roller track, the factory faced several challenges. Key components like keycaps, rubber domes, and circuit boards were stored in heavy plastic bins on fixed shelves. Workers had to walk 10-15 steps each time they needed a new component, which added up to hours of wasted time per day. Moreover, the bins were often stacked, making it hard to access the bottom ones without lifting, leading to occasional drops and damaged parts. Scrap rates for keycaps were around 8%, which was a significant cost.
The factory decided to invest in a lean solution that included flow racks fitted with 40mm white steel roller tracks. Each flow rack was designed to hold bins of different components, with the roller tracks allowing the bins to slide forward as the top ones are emptied. This meant workers could reach all necessary parts right at their lean pipe workbenches, eliminating the need to walk to the shelves.
Additionally, conveyors using the same roller track were installed to move partially assembled keyboards from the keycap installation station to the testing station. The smooth movement reduced the risk of damage to the delicate circuit boards, lowering scrap rates for those parts by 12%.
Let's look at the results in numbers:
|
Metric
|
Before Implementation
|
After Implementation
|
|
Time spent walking per worker per day
|
1.5 hours
|
0.5 hours
|
|
Scrap rate for keycaps
|
8%
|
4%
|
|
Assembly time per keyboard
|
2.5 minutes
|
2.0 minutes
|
|
Overall productivity gain
|
-
|
20%
|
In this factory, the production line had 15 assembly stations, each handling a specific step. Before the roller track, each worker spent an average of 1.5 hours per day walking to retrieve parts. With 15 workers, that's 22.5 hours of wasted time daily. After implementation, this time was reduced to 0.5 hours per worker, saving 15 hours daily—translating to an extra 75 hours of productive work per week. This allowed the factory to increase daily output from 1200 keyboards to 1440, a 20% boost.
The scrap rate reduction was also significant. For keycaps, the drop from 8% to 4% saved the factory approximately $500 per week on replacement parts. For circuit boards, the scrap rate went from 5% to 2%, saving an additional $300 per week. Over a year, these savings add up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Workers also reported higher job satisfaction. The reduced walking and lifting meant they were less tired at the end of the day, leading to fewer sick days and higher retention rates. This is a crucial benefit in an industry where skilled workers are in high demand.