Lean manufacturing has become a buzz word in the manufacturing sector. Dr. Steve Hunter from Mississippi State University, author of Lean Manufacturing Systems and Cell Design, says that the lumber industry can take advantage of these techniques used in other, more high tech industries. Steve emphasizes ergonomics in manufacturing – focusing on the role of humans to make manufacturing both efficient and safe. Fitting tasks to the people, not people to the tasks, is a challenge in designing manufacturing cells. One has to consider the relationships between manufacturing system designs and worker ergonomics.

            He presented the benefits that can accrue from changing the flow of products and materials, changing the location of workers within the cell, and changing the way a worker performs his particular task. This factory has dirt floors. That didn’t change, but the efficiency certainly did.

            Lean manufacturing is a common sense philosophy that works to eliminate waste of all kinds. It requires moving people and making changes in how they do things. Lean manufacturing reinforces continuous improvement. It may well require cultural changes.