Workshop layout and workflow—practical, monthly.
Posts publish on the 15th of each month. Each one is designed to be actionable on a real shop floor.
Designing for Visibility: Layout for Quality
Quality issues often come from hidden queues and unclear handoffs. Use visibility, defined zones, and simple checks to prevent rework.
Material Handling Is the Hidden Tax on Throughput
If forklifts and manual lifts decide your lead time, you don’t have a machine problem—you have a flow problem. Here’s how to fix it.
Faster Changeovers: Standard Work That Sticks
Reduce changeover time by separating internal vs external tasks, clarifying handoffs, and designing the layout for quick, repeatable setups.
Bottlenecks and Buffers: Where WIP Helps and Hurts
How to use small, deliberate buffers to protect throughput—without letting WIP explode and hide problems. For fabricators.
Shop Floor Layout: Flow First, Then Footprint
A practical way to design a shop floor layout that protects throughput—starting with material flow, bottlenecks, and safe staging zones.