High-speed presses can make hundreds of parts a minute – which also means a small problem can become thousands of bad parts very quickly. That is why, at SNV, quality is built into the way we work every day, using lean practices our founder learned during seven years at Toyota.
Toyota Production System (TPS)
TPS rests on two ideas: just-in-time (make what the customer needs, when it is needed) and jidoka (stop and fix a problem the moment it appears, instead of passing it on). On a stamping line, this means stopping the press when something is wrong, finding the root cause and fixing it – not sorting good parts from bad ones at the end.
5S – a workplace that shows problems
5S stands for Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise and Sustain. Marked walkways, labelled die storage and a clean floor are not just about appearance: when everything has a fixed place, anything missing or out of place is noticed immediately, die changes are faster, and the work is safer.
Kaizen – small improvements, every day
Kaizen means continuous improvement. Operators are encouraged to suggest small changes – a better gauge, a quicker set-up, a clearer instruction. Over time, these small steps reduce changeover time, scrap and variation far more than occasional big projects.
What this means for customers
- Consistent quality – problems are caught and fixed at the source.
- Shorter lead times – less waste and faster set-ups mean parts ship sooner.
- Reliable supply – standard work makes every shift perform the same way.
- A partner who improves – our process gets better with every order.
Combined with our ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system, these practices are how we work towards our goal: zero-defect stator and rotor stampings with the shortest lead times.