Step 3 in 5S is Shine or “Seiso”, which translates to “cleanliness.” While the first and second steps cleared up space and arranged the area for efficiency, this step attacks the dirt and grime that inevitably builds up underneath the clutter, and works to keep it from coming back. [1]
Habitual Cleaning
Shine is more than just haphazard or sporadic cleaning. It is routine and habitual cleaning that extends beyond weekly sweeps and wipe-downs - even beyond cleaning and maintenance staff. Each person takes ownership of their area, equipment, and tools. A consistently clean area will allow workers to spot any aberrations or hazards in their area. Dangerous situations will be easily understood and accounted for, missing or out-of-place items will be easily recognized, and workers naturally tend to keep their area as clean as its surroundings. This is an empowering step that can give the workers or staff control of their space by consistently shining their workspace.
Shining may not seem like a monumental task compared to prior steps but without it, the efforts of the first two steps quickly fall apart. One will notice that without shining, it is easy to fall back into poor habits. With constant cleaning and inspections used in Shine, the system can feed into a preventative maintenance program. This way, 5S can extend the working life of equipment and help reduce emergency downtime. [2]
At Our Shop
Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routines have been instilled during the implementation of 5S and it continues to show. At this point, there is no expectation to clean from superiors or colleagues, it just happens. Everyone takes ownership of their own space and keeps it tidy and clean. Maintaining a tidy area permeated throughout the entire organization and now, every department contributes to keep the entire organization clean and shiny.
March 13, 2020
As of one day ago, the World Health Organization announced that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease is a global pandemic. With that considered, the action of shining beyond the workplace is more important than ever. Staying educated and informed can and will aid in further spreading of COVID-19. It is important to understand how to prevent, and if contracted, how to quarantine yourself as to prevent over-burdening the health care system. Find out more here. [3]
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S_(methodology)
graphicproducts.com/articles/what-is-5s/ [1][2]
https://www.5stoday.com/what-is-5s/
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html [3]
]]>Step 2 in the 5S System is Set In Order or “Seiton,” which translates to “orderliness.” The purpose of this step is to organize the work area in a way where each item would be easy to find, use, and return. There is a place for everything, and everything in its place. [1]
Things To Consider [2]
Building A 5S Map
Draw a 5S map, a diagram or floor plan that provides an overview of an area or process. It will provide visual reference of location of tools, supplies, workers, and travel paths. Whether you draw a map or physically rearrange things first, a diagram will help visualize the arrangement and ultimately aid new and old staff find any item.
Implement The Map
When storage locations are set, label the cabinet doors, drawers, racks, bins, or any other storage with whatever is inside. Labelling the interiors is also a good idea to help any workers clearly identify the item. It is typical that facilities create a “shadow board” for tool storage. With an outline of the tool on the board, returning an item to its designated area is easy with no second guessing. Organization can extend to the floor, too. Work areas, movement lanes, and storage for supplies and finished products can all be marked with floor marking tape. [3]
At Our Shop
Taking the time to create a diagram, shadow board, and teach it to the staff has noticeably improved productivity. The entire production team knows where materials and tools are located, considerably reducing down-time. Even if someone is unsure, we have diagrams and shadow boards to direct someone to the right area. Remember, prior to this, chaos and clutter was our norm, production suffered, and ultimately, would burden the customer. Now that our tools and materials are properly “Set In Order,” even onboarding new staff would be much more efficient. The purpose of setting in order, is to create a system of operations and placement that can be easily interpreted by any staff.
As we continue our 5S journey, particularly “Set In Order,” we generally seek to solve issues of wasted time, extra motions, over/extra processing, unnecessary transport, and under-utilized talents.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S_(methodology)
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The first step in the 5S methodology is Sort or “Seiri,” which translates to “tidiness.” The purpose of this step is to identify all tools, furniture, materials, and equipment in a work area and determine which items stay or go.
Clearing The Work Area
Questions one should ask when sorting should include [1]:
Each area is has its own unique setup so the best people to ask these questions are those who operate in the area. Once necessary and useful items have been identified, all useless items should be removed, relocated, thrown away, or recycled.
Unknown Items and Red-Tag
There will be instances when an item cannot be identified or has uncertain ownership, in this case, it would be “Red-Tagged.” Any item that has a red-tag will be quarantined to a specific red-tag location. This way, if the item has been misplaced, Supervisors can check the red-tagged area and verify whether or not an item should be relocated. If items remain in the red-tagged location for an extended period of time and ownership still uncertain, consider throwing away, selling, or recycling, and only stored it if it can be used by the company in the future.
At Our Shop
At Aerotex, this was our first step in our 5S journey. Prior to implementing, an organized chaos was present where only a handful of staff barely understood where anything was in the clutter. This gatekeeping hindered production by causing unnecessary loss of time, productivity, and at times posed a safety issue. In retrospect, 5S was overlooked for so long since production kept up with demand, there was no tangible reason to change. During 2018, when some of the production staff unexpectedly moved on, a vast gap was left for new staff to learn the unnecessary nuances of the shop. This was the indicator we needed to change.
Before sorting, rolls of textiles and bins of hardwares were haphazardly piled up, sometimes with the same parts in different bins across the floor. We prioritized the production floor. We identified items in the area by usefulness; the amount of useless and red-tagged items was a sobering moment that vindicated 5S. We have since relocated, thrown away, sold, recycled, and given away those items. Though precious production time was used, hindsight shows this was the better use of time as it led to more space on the floor; items are sorted and placed in designated areas; and the production staff are happy with the consistency and cleanliness of the space.
This journey started with sorting the production floor and soon permeated across departments once the value was recognized. Admin, sales, and front desk soon followed suite and started to 5S their respective areas.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S_(methodology)
]]>Steps of 5S [2]
5S is considered a foundational part of Toyota Production System because until the workplace is in a clean, organized state, achieving consistently good results is difficult. A messy, cluttered space can lead to mistakes, slowdowns in productions, and even accidents, all of which interrupt operations and negatively impact a company [3]. These steps are a continuous process that should be implemented as an organization grows and evolves. If a company is looking to reduce costs, create consistent products, increase productivity, a safer work space, and increase employee satisfaction, they should be using the 5S system.
Aerotex was introduced to this in 2018 and has been sustaining 5S since then. The upcoming posts will share our experience with 5S in our shop, production, and its benefit to us as a whole.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S_(methodology)
]]>Days prior to my flight for Anaheim, I scoured for any relevant information; whether it’s videos, blogs, or researching the sponsors and exhibitors, I was searching for any inkling. Monday, January 27 rolled around and the morning, airport, flight, drive to the hotel, and settling-in felt almost standard; the palm trees and endless highway threw me off. There was a lot of firsts on this trip: my first expo working as a representative, my first helicopter expo, the first time in California in more than a decade - it made time feel slow. My colleague and I met with PWC reps monday evening to discuss potentially new markets for light helicopters and that set the precedence for the days to come.
Did I mention the 23 degree celsius weather? For a Canadian at the end of January, this was warmly welcomed. We registered early morning Tuesday and surveilled till exhibit doors open. As time hit, we stepped through the packed doors and took a moment to soak in the scenery. I’ve been to conventions and fan expos in the past but nothing could really compare in scale, from lavishly decorated booths to the 30+ helicopters spanning the entire convention centre! We first made contact with our benefactors, exchanged pleasantries, asked for guidance from expo veterans, and then we were off. Our mission was to connect with any relevant organizations to touch base, follow-up, and exchange cards and brochures. It took us a majority of our days walking through the halls, entertaining our company owner, checking each exhibitor, and connecting with past, present, and future clients, all while capturing footage along the way. It was notable watching a company’s press conference live where they would announce new deals, partnerships, projects, and highlighting recent helicopter safety inquiries by paying respects too the recent Kobe Bryant tragedy.
There was seminar I attended early Wednesday morning by Vertical Magazine (or Aerospace Marketing Lab) on Digital & Content Marketing. Presented by Marcus Sheridan, a successful marketer & entrepreneur who brought his pool company from the ground to making 7+ million/year, he presented his book “They Ask You Answer” in a 90-min format with the helicopter over-tones. As the marketer for B2B, this was utmost valuable knowledge to bring back. Between my colleague and I, we walked almost 100km in the span of 3 days and like that, the 4th day came and we went our separate ways home. Back at the office, I unpacked luggage, bags, swag, brochures, and most importantly, our contacts.
The expo was a valuable learning experience - besides the continuous education about new helicopters, maintenance, products, and services at an international scale, I learned about the future of the industry. For example, the impending “Air Taxi” service that has been perpetuated in recent years and how service and manufacturing companies alike are rearing to participate in the potential market. The expo was valuable time spent connecting and networking with our existing customers and the newly interested. We got face-to-face, engaging and conversing, questioning and answering, laughing and whispering, interactions typically is not feasible in any other circumstance than at this expo. Lastly, the expo was valuable to further my understanding of Aerotex as an aviation upholstery organization through navigating the expo floor and witnessing relationships Aerotex has built over its lifetime. From the seminars, meetings, and unabashed introductions, we both gained further recognition of our company and its niche within the industry. Within the short period of time, we brought back valuable experiences, connections, and clarity.
It’s been almost two weeks since the behemoth that is HAI Heli Expo and I can reflect and say the experience has made me a better marketer. As I integrate the education, touch base with contacts, and follow up with customers, I can confidently say I am better equipped than before. There’s much to follow and stay informed regarding the helicopter industry and I look forward to delving deeper until next year’s expo in New Orleans! For this fresh marketer, I give 2020 HAI Heli Expo a solid 8/10.
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Calgary, AB, January 2020 – Aerotex is improving the convenience and availability of their cargo-net and restraint system hardware by making them readily available for purchase to anyone looking to upgrade or replace their current hardware. Whether it is for a new or existing set, customers now have more options available for their aircraft or maintenance needs.
Cargo net/Restraints wares and Aviation Supply
Aerotex is now stocking cargo net and restraint system hardware to meet with client demands. With a stock of alligator clips, snap hooks, and swivel hooks available repairing, maintaining, and manufacturing cargo nets and restraints has become quicker and more efficient. With different load capabilities and harness options, customers will have a larger variety of hardware to choose from. With the recent addition of aviation sheet supply and net/restraint hardware supply allows Aerotex to reduce lead-times and improve customer experience. Check out the cargo net hardware now.
Aerotex will be attending the 2020 HAI HELI SHOW
About Aerotex Interiors Inc.
The goal of Aerotex is to provide clients with quality helicopter and airplane accessories with the fastest lead time possible. The foundation the company has been built as a family over the past 25+ years, with continued efforts to innovate and grow, seek out cutting-edge technologies, new materials, and advanced methods to improve their products and services. Aerotex stands on the principles of: Innovation, practicality, safety, reliability, and cost effectiveness. They are committed to providing superior experience in customer service, taking the time to understand the needs of each of client. Aerotex Interiors can be found online at http://www.aerotex.ca/ or contacted at 403-295-8770.
Media Contact:
Frederick Fernandez
Aerotex Interiors Inc.
151 – 2340 Pegasus Way NE
Calgary, AB, T2E 8M5
Phone: +1(403)-295-8770
Email: fred@aerotex.ca
]]>Calgary, AB, December 2019 - Aerotex is expanding its capability to better serve the aviation industry by expanding and introducing a new division to handle the demand for aviation materials supply. The company has introduced Supply Kings as its premier division that handles sheet supply retail and custom 2D cutting/routing. Supply Kings have the capabilities to cut a large variety of materials including rubbers, woods, plastics and aluminum.
A need was filled when Aerotex brought Supply Kings, a sheet supply and custom fabrication shop, under its wings Q3 of 2019. With what started as simple material retail and fabrication, integrated into the aerospace company and soon bloomed. Armed with a three-axis CNC machine and a stock of various sheet material now at their disposal, Aerotex’s scope of work has expanded to add fabrication and retail. What aided this integration was noticing the need for aviation material supply from customers like Boltaron, Kydex, and Acrylite. Having sheet supply, a CNC machine, and fabricators on its team is allowing Aerotex to serve the aviation industry more intelligently and efficiently.
The value Supply Kings adds to Aerotex as a sheets retailer and custom fabrication shop is exponential. With the new abilities a CNC machine brings and a stock of sheet materials, creating custom jigs, fittings, tools, and parts has become that much easier, cutting down on delivery, storage, and lead-time.
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Upholstery and Soft Interiors Maintenance
When operating any transportation vehicle, we seek out for any wears-and-tears that inevitably happen so to stay vigilant with maintenance and upkeep. Especially when it comes to aircrafts - longevity, sustainability, and safety is essential for any operator or maintenance operation. Like mechanical parts, upholstery and soft interiors of an aircraft play an important part in the durability, usability, and protection of the aircraft. That is why it is upmost priority to have upholstery and soft interiors maintained and repaired by an approved and certified source.
PDA19-41: Bell Medium Soft Interiors Replacement
PDA19-41 is certification approved by TCCA in accordance with CAR (Canadian Aviation Regulations) section 521.357 that allows the holder to manufacture replacements for Bell Medium helicopters, which include: Bell 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 214B, 214B-1, 412, 412 CF, and 412 EP. The soft interior replacements include:
All are direct OEM replacement parts and are recognized worldwide and installed by any aviation-regulated country (i.e. FAA, EASA, ICAO).
Certification and Aerotex
With STC (Supplemental Type Certification) for various other parts and manufacturers, PDA19-41 allows Aerotex to produce soft interiors and upholstery for Bell Medium helicopters as an approved manufacturer. Aerotex has gone through rigorous review and engineering to attain this approval, which trickles directly to the customer. This makes for an even better experience with Aerotex, eliciting trust and confidence in the product through this certification; there is no question that Aerotex products adhere to regulation with superb quality. Check out the newly approved parts here.
About Aerotex
The goal of Aerotex is to provide clients with quality helicopter and airplane accessories with the fastest lead time possible. The foundation the company has been built as a family over the past 25+ years, with continued efforts to innovate and grow, seeking out cutting-edge technologies, new materials, and advanced methods to improve their products and services. Aerotex stands on the principles of: Innovation, practicality, safety, reliability, and cost effectiveness. They are committed to providing superior experience in customer service, taking the time to understand the needs of each of client. Aerotex Interiors can be found online at www.aerotex.ca or contacted at 403-295-8770.
Media Contact:
Frederick Fernandez
Aerotex Interiors Inc.
151 – 2340 Pegasus Way NE
Calgary, AB, T2E 8M5
Phone: +1(403)-295-8770
Email: info@aerotex.ca
]]>View Vertical Magazine April/May 2019
Article from page 112-115
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