In the Pre-Assignment, you were asked to match several terms with their definitions. While memorizing these terms is not essential, it’s important to be familiar with them. Compare your answers to the correct definitions below.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Autonomation or Jidoka | A semi-automatic process; human and machine working together. |
| Benchmarking | Measuring products, processes, services, etc. against the highest standard. |
| Blitz | A fast, structured, focused process for improving something (a process, a workspace, etc.). |
| Cycle Time | The time required to complete one cycle of a particular operation. |
| Five S (5S) | The principles for achieving and maintaining an effective workplace: Seiri, Seiketsu, Seiso, Seiton, and Shitsuke. |
| Flow | The way production moves from the beginning (raw material) to the end (customer). This is a key principle of Lean – Lean envisions the flow as one smooth process. |
| Gemba | A Japanese term meaning, “Where the action is.” |
| Genchi Genbutsu | A Japanese term meaning, “Go and see for yourself.” |
| Heijunka | The process of leveling the workload between resources. |
| Just-in-Time (JIT) | A production system where each item required is produced and available precisely when needed, in the exact amount. |
| Kaikaku | A fast, radical change process. |
| Kaizen | Constant, gradual improvement to a process in order to create less waste but more value. |
| Lead Time | How long a customer must wait for the product after they place an order. |
| Muda | An activity that creates no value but consumes resources and is therefore considered waste. |
| Mura | Inconsistency and deviation. |
| Muri | Irrationality. |
| Pokayoke | A mistake-proofing device such as quality testing or checklists. |
| Pull | A production philosophy where only what is ordered by customers is produced. Key element of Just-In-Time. |
| Push | A production philosophy where products are created regardless of demand. |
| Takt Time | The rate at which customers are demanding a product. This is the heartbeat of any Lean enterprise. |
| Value | Desired characteristics provided to the customer at the right time, place, and cost. |
| Value Stream | The process of designing, producing, and delivering a product. |