Note
Note
Less direct influence; na onal/global Crucial; service loca ons must be near
Market and
markets o en priori zed over target customers (e.g., retail,
Customer Access
proximity(# 03b. Facility Loca o…) healthcare)(# 03b. Facility Loca o…)
U lity Availability: This was men oned earlier but not explicitly covered in the table. Now
added.
Customer Proximity: Further clarified for services that being close to the customer is
essen al, while it is less crucial for manufacturers unless the industry is market-oriented.
Cost Minimiza on vs. Revenue Maximiza on: This overarching point, differen a ng
manufacturing and service loca ons, was emphasized and added as its own row.
Breakdown Maintenance
Characteris cs:
Leads to higher repair costs and recurring breakdowns due to lack of early interven on.
Real-life Example:
Car Breakdown: You ignore warning lights and odd noises coming from your car. One day, the
engine suddenly fails while you're on the road, forcing you to call a mechanic for emergency
repairs.
Factory Example: In a produc on plant, a conveyor belt is used con nuously un l it snaps. Only
when the belt breaks is it replaced, causing hours of unplanned down me.
Pros:
Cons:
Loss of produc vity as breakdowns can occur at any me, leading to disrup ons.
Correc ve Maintenance
Characteris cs:
Restores equipment to working condi on a er signs of wear and tear are detected.
Deals with both minor and major repairs that may arise due to normal aging of the machine.
Real-life Example:
Car Repairs: You regularly drive your car and maintain it, but a er several years, certain parts
like brake pads start to wear out. You replace them when the wear becomes no ceable but
before complete failure.
Factory Example: A machine producing faulty parts due to worn gears is repaired before the gears
completely fail.
Pros:
Cons:
Rou ne Maintenance
Concept: Rou ne maintenance involves cyclic checks and services carried out at regular intervals. It
ensures that equipment is regularly monitored and maintained to avoid major breakdowns.
Characteris cs:
Regularly scheduled tasks like cleaning, lubrica ng, and inspec ng machines.
Does not focus on the specific needs of the machine but instead follows a general servicing
rou ne.
Real-life Example:
Oil Changes: You take your car for rou ne oil changes every few months or a er a specific
number of miles, regardless of the car’s current condi on.
Factory Example: A maintenance schedule ensures all compressors are checked every Monday, with
two machines lubricated daily in rota on.
Pros:
Cons:
Doesn’t account for specific machine needs; blanket maintenance might miss cri cal issues
or over-service equipment.
Planned Maintenance
Characteris cs:
Focuses on machine-specific needs (e.g., opera ng condi ons, load usage).
Involves more detailed records and control over scheduling compared to rou ne
maintenance.
Real-life Example:
Air Condi oning Service: You plan an annual service for your home’s air condi oning unit
based on its usage pa erns and manufacturer guidelines. During these planned checks, the
technician examines all parts and replaces those nearing wear.
Factory Example: A plant opera ng under high temperatures plans for specialized cooling system
maintenance every three months to avoid overhea ng issues.
Pros:
Tailored to the specific needs of the machine, resul ng in more reliable performance.
Cons:
Preven ve Maintenance
Concept: Preven ve maintenance is a proac ve method where parts are replaced or serviced before
they show signs of failure. It aims to maintain the equipment’s reliability by addressing poten al
issues before they cause breakdowns.
Characteris cs:
A preven ve approach that seeks to avoid failures by addressing weak points early.
May involve replacing s ll-func oning parts to ensure con nuous reliability.
Real-life Example:
Replacing Tires: Even if your car’s res s ll look usable, you replace them a er a certain
amount of wear to avoid the risk of blowouts.
Factory Example: Bearings on machines are replaced a er a set number of opera onal hours, even if
they haven’t yet failed, to avoid interrup ons in produc on.
Pros:
High level of reliability and assurance that equipment will func on properly without
unexpected failures.
Cons:
Concept: Predic ve maintenance uses data from real- me monitoring to predict when a machine is
likely to fail, allowing for repairs only when necessary. It focuses on machine health and performance
data.
Characteris cs:
Condi on monitoring tools (e.g., sensors) are used to track machine performance and
predict failures.
Reduces unnecessary repairs, as maintenance is only performed when the equipment shows
signs of poten al failure.
Real-life Example:
Fitness Tracker Alerts: You wear a fitness tracker that monitors your heart rate and alerts
you when there are signs of poten al health issues. This lets you take preven ve ac on
before a serious issue arises.
Factory Example: A refinery uses vibra on sensors on pumps to detect abnormal ac vity. If unusual
vibra ons are detected, it predicts bearing failure, and the necessary repairs are scheduled before
the breakdown occurs.
Pros:
Cons:
Concept: TPM is a holis c approach that involves all employees in maintaining equipment to
maximize its effec veness. It emphasizes teamwork, con nuous improvement, and autonomous
maintenance, where workers take responsibility for the equipment they use.
Characteris cs:
Aims to improve machine performance through preven ve, correc ve, and autonomous
maintenance.
Real-life Example:
Restaurant Kitchen: In a busy restaurant, chefs and kitchen staff are responsible for
maintaining and cleaning their equipment daily to ensure everything runs smoothly during
rush hours.
Factory Example: Workers on a produc on line are trained to perform basic maintenance tasks on
the machines they use. They clean, inspect, and lubricate their equipment daily, while more complex
tasks are handled by maintenance teams.
Pros:
Total employee involvement improves equipment performance and reduces down me.
Cons:
Requires a cultural shi within the company and consistent training to implement
successfully.
Table of Differences
Planning
Replacing
Repairing a annual Replacing a
worn brake Lubrica ng Replacing a
machine machine ming belt Autonomous
pads a er machines bearing based
Examples only when overhauls before it maintenance by
signs of on a set on vibra on
it breaks based on reaches its factory workers
deteriora schedule data
down usage usage limit
on
condi ons
Detailed,
Restores machine- Increased
Reduces
No upfront equipment Simple, specific Prevents employee
down me by
Advantages maintenan func onalit cyclical maintenance unexpected involvement,
predic ng
ce costs y a er process ensures failures higher equipment
failures early
wear op mal effec veness
func on
Comparison Table
Maintenance
Real-Life Example Pros Cons
Type
Conclusion
Each maintenance strategy has its strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different
scenarios:
Rou ne maintenance offers consistent upkeep but might not meet specific machine needs.
Planned and preven ve maintenance aim to improve equipment reliability and lifespan,
with planned maintenance tailored to usage pa erns.
In opera ons management, Push and Pull systems are two dis nct inventory management and
produc on strategies. The key difference lies in how demand is forecasted and how produc on or
replenishment is triggered.
Push System
A Push system is a produc on strategy where goods are produced based on forecasted demand. The
company predicts how much product will be needed and pushes it through the supply chain to
customers or stores, regardless of actual demand.
Characteris cs:
High inventory: Since produc on is done based on predic ons, large amounts of inventory
are kept in storage to meet future demand.
Poten al for overproduc on: If forecasts are inaccurate, there is a risk of overproducing,
leading to excessive inventory and wastage.
Long lead mes: Products are made in advance, leading to longer wai ng periods between
produc on and actual sales.
Real-life Example:
Seasonal clothing: A fashion retailer predicts demand for summer clothing months in
advance. It produces large volumes of summer wear and stocks it in stores, hoping demand
will match the forecast.
Pros:
Pull System
A Pull system is a demand-driven produc on strategy where goods are produced only in response to
actual customer demand. Produc on is ini ated when orders are placed, minimizing excess
inventory and aligning closely with real- me market needs.
Characteris cs:
Low inventory: Because goods are made on demand, there’s minimal inventory, leading to
lower storage costs.
Reduced risk of overproduc on: Since produc on is based on real demand, there is li le to
no risk of overproducing.
Short lead mes: The system operates more flexibly, but it may require shorter produc on
cycles to fulfill customer orders promptly.
Real-life Example:
Custom-made products: Companies like Dell that allow customers to configure their own
laptops follow a pull system. The laptop is only assembled once an order is placed.
Restaurants: Fast food chains like McDonald’s use a pull system for food prepara on. Burgers
are only made when customers place their orders, ensuring freshness and minimal waste.
Pros:
Cons:
May result in longer wait mes for customers if produc on cannot keep up with demand.
Trigger for
Based on forecasted demand Based on actual customer demand
Produc on
Aspect Push System Pull System
Longer lead mes due to advance Shorter lead mes, but may vary based
Lead Times
produc on on produc on flexibility
Efficient for high-volume produc on; Reduces waste, lower inventory costs,
Advantages
planned resource use flexible to demand
Summary
Push systems rely on forecas ng to plan produc on in advance, which can result in
overproduc on or excessive inventory. It's suited for industries where high-volume
produc on is common and demand can be reasonably predicted.
Pull systems are demand-driven, producing only what is needed when it’s needed. This
minimizes waste and inventory costs but requires a more responsive and flexible produc on
process to avoid delays in fulfillment.
Each system has its strengths and weaknesses, and companies o en use a combina on of both to
op mize efficiency and meet customer needs. For example, many businesses use a Push-Pull Hybrid
where upstream produc on is based on forecasts (Push), while downstream (closer to the customer),
they use a pull system to meet real- me demand.
The differences between Mass Produc on, Job Shop Produc on, Con nuous Produc on, and
Project Produc on lie in the scale, flexibility, and approach to the produc on process. Each type is
suited to different industries and product types, depending on the volume, customiza on, and
produc on flow. Here’s a breakdown of each:
1. Mass Produc on
Mass produc on involves manufacturing large quan es of standardized products. This type of
produc on is highly repe ve, with minimal varia on in the final products. It is best suited for
products that are in high demand and require minimal customiza on.
Characteris cs:
Examples:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Job shop produc on is a custom manufacturing process in which small batches of a variety of
products are made. This type of produc on is flexible, allowing for highly specialized products that
are made to order.
Characteris cs:
Examples:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Con nuous produc on is a streamlined, uninterrupted produc on process where materials are
constantly in mo on. It is typically used for commodi es or products that flow through pipelines or
conveyors, and operates 24/7.
Characteris cs:
o Runs con nuously, o en 24/7, to avoid high start-up and shut-down costs.
Examples:
o Oil refining.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Project produc on is used for large, complex products that are typically one-of-a-kind and involve
several tasks or stages. Produc on is unique to each project, and resources are allocated to complete
a specific, temporary project.
Characteris cs:
Examples:
o Shipbuilding.
Advantages:
o Highly tailored produc on to meet the exact specifica ons of the project.
Disadvantages:
5. Batch Produc on
Batch produc on involves manufacturing products in groups or batches. Each batch goes through the
en re produc on process before the next batch starts, and the setup may change between batches
to accommodate different products.
Characteris cs:
o Clothing manufacturing.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
o Less efficient than con nuous or mass produc on for large volumes.
Mass Produc on: Best for standardized, high-volume items where efficiency is key.
Job Shop Produc on: Suited for highly customized, low-volume products with complex
requirements.
Con nuous Produc on: Ideal for industries with a constant, uninterrupted produc on flow
and very high demand.
Project Produc on: Involves large-scale, one-off products where every project is unique.
Batch Produc on: A middle ground, offering flexibility for medium-volume produc on where
different products can be produced in batches.
The TIMWOOD concept is a framework used in Lean Manufacturing and Lean Thinking to iden fy
and eliminate the seven types of waste in a produc on or business process. The term "TIMWOOD" is
an acronym for the seven categories of waste:
1. T - Transporta on
Example: Moving raw materials from one loca on to another without adding value.
Impact: Increases lead me and costs without contribu ng to the end product's quality or
value.
2. I - Inventory
Defini on: Excess inventory beyond what is necessary to complete orders (raw materials,
work-in-progress, or finished goods).
Impact: Ties up capital, increases storage costs, and can result in obsolescence or damage to
goods.
3. M - Mo on
Impact: Wastes me and can lead to worker fa gue, injuries, and inefficiency.
4. W - Wai ng
Defini on: Idle me when employees, materials, or machinery are wai ng for the next step
in produc on.
Impact: Decreases produc vity and increases produc on me, leading to delays in delivery.
5. O - Overproduc on
Defini on: Producing more than what is needed or producing products before they are
needed.
Impact: Leads to excess inventory and storage costs, es up capital, and increases the risk of
product obsolescence.
6. O - Overprocessing
Defini on: Doing more work or adding more features to a product than what is required by
the customer.
7. D - Defects
Defini on: Errors or mistakes that result in rework, repairs, or discarded products.
Example: A product being produced with a flaw that requires it to be fixed or scrapped.
Impact: Results in wasted materials, me, and labor, along with poten al damage to the
company’s reputa on.
Enhance customer sa sfac on by ensuring faster delivery and higher quality products.
Lean prac oners focus on con nuously improving processes by minimizing or elimina ng these
wastes, thus increasing overall opera onal efficiency and value for customers.