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Goudsmit Magnetics designs and builds industrial magnet systems and high-tech magnet components. These magnets find their way to the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries worldwide, among others. Speaking is Christiaan Luijten, Team Lead Production Engineering at Goudsmit Magnetics: “Three years ago we brought in a new high-tech client for whom we make 12 different products,” Christiaan says. “The production process for this particular customer was stable for a long time, but in late 2022 that changed. Something was going on with the laser welding process, causing the scrap rate – the reject rate – to rise significantly on certain products. For some products, 40 percent failed the leak tightness test during the quality inspection. We first tried to figure out the cause ourselves, but couldn’t figure it out. That’s why we engaged Rens Tuller of Symbol.”
Manufacturing process improvement with DMAIC, a Lean Six Sigma model
For Rens, the Goudsmit Magnetics organization was not new. “In 2021, I ran a project as a junior consultant in Goudsmit’s quality department. Of course, it is a nice compliment when you are asked again. Reducing the reject rate in this particular manufacturing process was also a nice challenge that aligned well with my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training – a method familiar to Goudsmit themselves, as they have been supplying the high-tech industry for many years. We proceeded according to the DMAIC model, a proven Lean Six Sigma method for improving the quality of results of processes. The letters stand for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. In short, you first identify (the size of) the problem, perform measurements, analyze the data to identify root causes, and then implement improvements. Then you enter the Control phase, where you make sure the improvements are secured.”
New insights through data science
Through this structured approach, Rens and Christiaan discovered that each of the 12 products had its own issues. So the rising scrap rate was not just related to the laser welding process. Rens: “For example, with certain products different base materials were used than a few years ago, with other products the problem lay in the inferior quality of the base materials.
Something Goudsmit has no control over, but which has led to robust discussions with suppliers. By the way, we gained these insights by building a database and then analyzing all the data: can we make relationships, do we see trends?
So we saw the outcomes of certain materials and also what was lacking in them. Goudsmit now has access to a dashboard that shows data and trends.”
Substantial cost savings and lower rejection rate
There are also tangible results, Rens and Christiaan have concluded: “For example, in one product group, which includes six products, the rejection rate has dropped from 40 percent to 5 to 10 percent as a result of the improvements made. This means that now 90 to 95 percent pass the leak tightness test during the quality inspection and are therefore not rejected,” Rens says. Christiaan adds: “On that product group, we met our targets, and that results in significant cost savings. A 40 percent scrap rate was costing us serious money…”
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Improved production process, more knowledge in the organization
For most products, the DMAIC model is now fully completed, two products are still in the stage between Improve and Control. “I am confident that we are going to achieve great results with that as well,” Christiaan said. “However, the production rate has been reduced recently. The improved production process is now capable of delivering a few products a week, but to meet customer demand it must become dozens, if not a hundred a week. We are picking this up ourselves – we have hired someone for this. Rens transfers his work and knowledge to this new colleague. I find the latter extraordinary, because many people prefer to keep their knowledge to themselves. Rens did not: he even shared his knowledge and expertise in other places in the organization. In doing so, he really exudes the concept of Symbol: Inspiring people, improving processes.”
Looking for inspiration and improvement?
Want to learn more about Symbol’s project approach? Then contact us at 053 – 20 30 240 or using the form below. Do you want to train yourself in process optimization? Then check out our Lean Green Belt and Lean Black Belt training courses!