Posts Tagged ‘LEAN’
EXPERT’S OPINION: Advice from a long career
The C.A. Lawton Co. periodically publishes input from professionals within the foundry industry and outside the casting world. These Expert Opinions may be casting-related, Continuous Improvement (CI / LEAN), Operational Excellence (Op-Ex), or just working through the challenges of today’s business environment. The goal is to present you with differing viewpoints on how our guests…
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 MoreHow LEAN is making a foundry family possible
Author: R.J. Hawkins, Engineer Manager at the C.A. Lawton Co. Often kids are raised by a single parent. To the best of their abilities, the parent does all he or she can to assure their kids don’t see the struggles that are taking place. I am an example of this because I was raised by…
Read MoreToolbox Talks: What are they?
Toolbox Talks are the new method of communication for employees at the C.A. Lawton Co. Each week, a handout is designed and posted by our compliance coordinator, Katherine Jungwirth. This handout is specifically created to freshen everyone’s memory and remind them of specific safety precautions. Lawton’s team digs deep when designing these Toolbox Talks because…
Read MoreEXPERT’S OPINION: Fill the Bench and Balance the Pyramid
The C.A. Lawton Co. periodically publishes input from professionals both within the foundry industry and outside the casting world. These Expert Opinions may be casting related, Continuous Improvement (CI / LEAN), Operational Excellence (Op-Ex), or just working through the challenges of today’s business environment. The goal is to present you with differing viewpoints of how…
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 MoreContinuous Improvement double take: the shakeout in shakeout
Continuous Improvement is, by definition, a never-ending process. At The C.A. Lawton Co., as with all CI organizations, the mindset of this philosophy becomes part of the culture. Every team member is trained and prepared to participate in improvement events. The week of May 18-22, 2020, the Lawton team embarked on a very ambitious kaizen…
Read MoreHow LEAN is making a “Foundry Family” possible
By: RJ Hawkins, Engineer Manager Often kids are raised by a single parent. To the best of their abilities, the parent does all he or she can assure their kids don’t see the struggles that are taking place. I am an example of this because I was raised by a single mom. Even though I…
Read MoreLean and green at Lawton
At the core of both sustainability and Lean is the concept of waste reduction. Lean focuses on reducing process waste. Sustainability focuses on reducing environmental waste. By acknowledging the similarities between these two frameworks, we open new doors for how organizations can integrate both Lean and sustainability into the workplace. In order to successfully employ…
Read MoreCustomer benefits of LEAN
LEAN. When we remove the culinary connotations of the word and apply it to manufacturing, we are referring to the idea of maximizing customer value. Therefore, to title this blog as Customer Benefits of LEAN represents a level of redundancy that even Monty Python would admire. But let us describe how the principles of LEAN…
Read More