new dynaimc at kaizen event

Our first Kaizen event of 09 was Monday. the topic was installing moldings on panels. We used some current work for the event. I was a huge success, on our former employees was present and he had much to say, most of the guys are pretty closed mouth at the events. But this new person added a dynamic that has never really been there before. He made sure himself that everyone understood what we were talking about, and when that happens we are really growing as a team. the men will just yes me death, I am the boss and they don't want to seem stupid. I have to make sure this guy is around at the next event. this other guy his name is Pedro works for another woodworking called Caliper. They seem like a decent company I went to the web site, they do mostly commercial work. One of the problems we are having with the molding is that the glue is not being properly spread, so the moldings some times break away from the panel, generally this happens when they are near heat generating appliances and the such. Also we aren't happy with the amount of time it takes to fill the nail holes and sand, also we have been able to see the nail holes thru the paint. So these issues get addressed at the events and we make sure that the new guys know how we want things done. When we are all together sometimes some new tricks and techniques can be passed around.


I have started to add the drawer box dimensions to the shop drawings, that is very useful when it comes to making the drawer box order. by doing that I have already thought about the drawer box in it's entirety since I have drawn it and it eliminates mistakes. also it makes it easier to create the drawer box because I only have to get the width dimension the height and depth are already calculated. We buy are drawer boxes from Eagle Woodworking in Lawrence Ma. a great business.

I have found a new place to buy 1x6 poplar. We were getting that at the local lumber yard, but I found it for less at Highland Hardwoods. It just goes to show that as a business we have always got to be making sure that we are getting the best price for our raw materials. The longer you do business with a vendor the more foggy it gets about who is getting the best deal. So we are always shopping out when it comes to routine materials. We use the 1x6 poplar for small moldings since it is already s4s it is faster, we can go directly into molding no jointing planing etc.