Who Benefits From Lean Manufacturing?
Posted by Nick F. on Monday, February 16th, 2009In my last article, I gave a brief introduction to BraunAbility’s journey into Lean Manufacturing.  For this post I’m going to discuss how it affects the two most important components to Lean Theory – the customer and the employee. Without tremendous emphasis on these two components, Lean will fail.
First, how does Lean affect the BraunAbility customer? Well, since the beginning of the company we have always put the customer first, which is one of the three major Lean principles. Implementing Lean will only strengthen this commitment, and it will greatly affect the product that we deliver to you. This program places a huge emphasis on continually monitoring, designing and improving the quality and design of our wheelchair vans and wheelchair lifts – with the ultimate goal of producing a perfect product off the line, every time. Now I realize that “perfect” is a difficult and lofty goal to attain, but that’s exactly where we’re setting our sights – and we’ll constantly strive to get there.
What does Lean do for the BraunAbility employee? In a word: a ton! As we have begun to implement lean on our Toyota Sienna Rampvan production line, our team is continually looking for ways to improve the quality of life and working conditions for our employees. We focus on things like improving tooling, lighting, ergonomics and increasing studies on controlling environmental factors such as noise and smoke from welders. All of this helps increase job satisfaction and quality of life for associates on the handicap van production line. This, in turn, delivers a higher quality product to our customers – a win-win situation for everyone involved.
And the coolest part about all of this? We’ve only just begun (yes, sing the Carpenters song in your head), and the benefits and improvements have already started showing up. It’s going to be very exciting to see Lean principles applied across all our production lines in the coming months, and I look forward to sharing our progress with you as we work to continually improve our mobility products.
Tags: BraunLean
February 21st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Is it possible to put a tow-hitch on a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country with the Entervan conversion?
February 21st, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Hi Ryan,
I don’t know our “official” position on this, but I do know of customers who have done it successfully. In fact, I profiled a customer on the blog who tows his pontoon with his Town and Country. I will check with some more knowledgeable people when we’re back in the office on Monday and pass more information onto you.
Jack
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 am
I would like to see a power seat that could be used as both a driver seat and a passenger seat. I would also like to have a trailer hitch. These are two conversion options that are very important to me, and will determine which conversion van I buy.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 am
Hi Cliff,
When you say “power seat,” do you a mean a transfer seat (one that raises/lowers, moves back/forward, and swivels)? Are you wanting to be able to move this transfer seat from the driver to the passenger position when needed? Transfer seats are bolted to the floor and not designed to be moved from one position to the other. If you can give me more details, I’ll have a better idea of what you’re trying to do.
As for the trailer hitch, this can easily be added to a side-entry van. It would not be an option on rear-entry CompanionVans.
Thanks for the note- let me know if I can help you with the power/transfer seat issue.
Jack
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Ryan,
To follow up on my last comment: I checked with engineering and BraunAbility does not recommend towing with any of our vehicles, primarily due to the fact the gas tank is relocated to the rear of the vehicle during the conversion process. I hope that clears up your concerns – let me know if you have any more questions!
Jack
March 20th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hello Jack,
I enjoyed your blog on Lean Manufacturing, I myself have taken the Lean courses and you and I can both appreciate the emphasis on team work and customer satisfaction. Perfection is a great goal but you or I should never expect to reach it because if the time comes when you think you have then you have lost. What I mean by this is if you think you reached that goal or are even close to it then you lose your drive to make things better. This I know is not the Braun way.
As far as the questions above in regards to a tow hitch, I do believe Braun does recommend against it but one can be added to a modified van but the hitch must also be modified to fit. The user must also take into consideration that this is a modified van and needs to be careful in what they tow. Many people out there use them for bike racks and to tow smaller trailers. On this matter you really need to check with your local Mobility Dealer. If you choose to have it done, then please have them do it as they should be aware of the vehicle features that need to be taken into consideration.
As far as the “power seat” I think they may mean one that can be switched from one side to another, with certain vehicles the drivers seat can fit into the passenger seat spot or vise versa but all vehicles are different. There are even differences within the same model vehicle depending on what type of seat is in it. As far as a swivel transfer seat goes there are many FMVSS and NHTSA safety standards that need to be adhered to and I don’t believe that a transfer seat can be safely or legally attached as an interchangeable seat. Safety has to be the number one consideration here.
Keep up the good work out there in Winamac. My blessing always go out to the Braun Family and there employees
August 27th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I have a 2004 Entervan, Town & Country . I want to tow a two place Kayak trailer that weighs 240lbs. Is there a hitch that will work?
Thank you
August 31st, 2009 at 7:20 am
Hello David,
There is nothing on the conversion that will prevent you from using a Chrylser or after-market tow hitch for your trailer. However, we do not recommend towing with your Entervan, primarily due to ground clearance issues and the relocation of the gas tank to the rear of the vehicle during conversion.
Jack