Posts Tagged ‘kaizen’
Transformation Calendar: Continuous Improvement
The C.A. Lawton Co. strives to improve continuously. Today we examined the Transformation Calendar with industrial engineer Tricia Berg. What is a Transformation Calendar? Lawton’s Transformation Calendar is a visual listing of all activities sponsored by the company to improve the company’s safety, performance, and productivity. It covers every company area from quotation through the…
Read MoreLearn all about a Kaizen
Kaizen is a Japanese expression meaning “change for better” or continuous improvement – whatever you are doing, you can do it better. At The C.A. Lawton Co, we strive for continuous improvement every single day. Breaking apart and putting together The first part of the word, kai, means “to break apart,” and zen means “to…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving from the C.A. Lawton Co.
This Thanksgiving and holiday season, we reflect on all the people and things we are thankful for. At The C.A. Lawton Co., we are always thankful for our hard-working and caring employees that make Lawton the family it is today. We appreciate all members of our team, their safety, and their contributions to the continuous…
Read MoreInter-company kaizen success
The Lawton Standard Co. held an intercompany kaizen event during the week of April 12-16 at Penn-Mar Castings, LLC in Hanover, PA. This was a first for Penn-Mar since joining The Lawton Standard family of foundries in February 2021. Participants from all the Lawton family sites were involved in this exciting project. As the first…
Read MoreLawton uses EBI Lites for quick and easy kaizen
Lawton’s EBI Lite program carries on the tradition of quick and easy kaizen, empowering our workers to seek out and make incremental improvements to their work areas. According to Barry Adamski, EBI Lite may be the most critical path to a better future for the five-generation, family-owned foundry: “We believe each person has unlimited creative…
Read MoreLawton locations grow together
The C.A. Lawton Co. is dedicated to integrating the newly acquired Minster, OH foundry. Employees from both locations have been working meticulously to create a cohesive and seamless process from start to finish. A LEAN Team LEAN Consultant, Cathlin Stuntz, goes into depth about the new projects happening in Minster. “The focus was to integrate…
Read More140+ year old foundry still learning new tricks with LEAN
Several years ago, The C.A. Lawton Co. made a complete commitment to LEAN. LEAN methodology emphasizes simplifying and accelerating work processes while simultaneously improving product quality. Today, we’re a LEAN-centered company, not just doing some LEAN manufacturing techniques, we’re all in. “Historically, we always made good castings and served customers relatively well. But as a…
Read MoreKitting and staging: preparation is key for Continuous Improvement
To effectively perform a task, all items required for that task need to be assembled. If the collection of these items is put off until the task has already started, many wastes may be realized before the task can be completed. Kitting and staging of items required to complete a task is an effective activity…
Read More6S: A powerful engine for improvement at Lawton
An organization is like a machine and its departments are like the cogs that make it run. In order to function effectively, it requires proper tools and maintenance. At The C.A. Lawton Co., departmental 6S audits are one of the Lean tools we use to maintain continuous improvement. It enables us to operate like a…
Read MoreThe history of Lean – part 4
During the 20th century, the concept of Lean became a worldwide phenomenon from an unlikely source: a small Japanese loom manufacturer that would become one of the world’s most well-known and respected auto manufacturers: Toyota. Through the Toyota Production System (TPS), the Japanese automaker molded ideas for making improvements into the concept of lean. Toyota…
Read MoreHow EBI Lite generates incredible momentum for improvement
In 1898, only 19 years after The C.A. Lawton Co. was founded, George Eastman of Eastman Kodak created the first known corporate suggestion system. It was focused on saving the company money. Kodak employees responded by turning in good ideas for years to come, helping the company to thrive for many years. The Japanese studied…
Read MoreThe history of The C.A. Lawton Co.: The fifth generation
