We Welcome Our New Operations Manager

Our new Operations Manager, Dave Harmer, has joined the team with a broad and varied background covering logistics, supply chain, maintenance and engineering, manufacturing, and contract packing. He has worked for decades within Lean organisations that hold the 5s processes central to all operations.

The 5S system has been in place at Techtron since August 2019 and Dave Harmer has joined Techtron to take over all aspects of the Operations function and knows just how important it is to constantly improve organisation, to have everything in place, achieve optimal flow of materials and a laser focus on safety. Dave is committed to making improvements through engagement and encouraging teamwork and has excellent experience of increasing capacity through Lean Manufacturing techniques.

Founded on a Japanese system, the S words have been translated as Sort, Set, Shine, Standardise and Sustain. The theory behind the 5S process is based on the best way to organise a workplace, improve efficiencies, create employee understanding of the best ways to work and sustain all linked processes to create a safe environment. Dave shares with us the importance he places on Sustaining, ie the fifth S, which ensures that the first four S’s are maintained and embedded into daily activities and workplace organisation methods.

Daily Audits

Having a daily audit to sustain the first four S’s is key – we do this at Techtron at the start of shifts, to cover off H&S, Quality, performance, service, and this introduces integral management.

Daily Scores

It is really important to maintain the core principles; we do a 5S daily audit for each department, there are 10 criteria that we look at, these are scored out of 5, therefore a score of 50 is best in class. A score of 30 is classed as standard.

Instant Recognition

Visual Management is key within the Techtron manufacturing and warehouse facility, to make sure that everything is instantly recognisable, all nationalities are included in visual management as there are no words, only symbols and colours.

Continuous Improvement

The current focus for continuous improvement at Techtron and increasing efficiencies is within the packing hall. While this has been in motion, the blending team took it upon themselves to make some improvements in line markings and improved floor markings.  A LEAN environment and continuous improvement atmosphere is great for ownership and accountability.  Next on the list is a reorganisation of the warehouse to achieve some marginal gains on what is already a safe, clean and organised space.

Watch this space for more improvement in Techtron’s operational environment.