OMNI Systems Label Blog

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Lean, KAIZEN™ and 5S Process Improvement Methods – Why They Matter in the Thermal Label Industry

Nov 1, 2019 2:00:00 PM

Process Improvement End User

Whatever products your business may provide, you should expect the thermal labels you purchase to be of the highest quality, with no exceptions. So how can you as an end-user label purchaser be assured of this?

It all begins and ends with the thermal label converter you’ve selected as your provider of choice. That company not only should offer you the lowest-priced thermal labels available anywhere, but they must have the infrastructure, processes and organizational commitment in place to assure top quality in every facet of their operation.

At OMNI Systems, we’re the industry leaders in quality for many reasons. We’ve been dedicated to excellence for nearly three decades and produce the highest quality thermal labels in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. High-quality thermal labels can help print heads last longer, reducing the total cost of ownership over time. In fact, OMNI’s thermal labels feature an average 99.9 percent defect-free acceptance rate.

Moreover, we utilize Lean, KAIZEN and 5S process improvement methods to help ensure total quality. In case you’re not familiar with these methods, here’s a quick explanation of each:

Lean principles are used to create more value for customers with fewer resources. It is used by businesses of all sizes and scopes for an array of processes. It’s not a cost reduction program, but rather, a mind-set that permeates an organization. According to the Lean Enterprise Institute website, “A lean organization understands customer value and focuses its key processes to continually increase it. The goal is to provide perfect value to the customer through a perfect value creation process that has zero waste.”

The Institute goes on to describe how lean thinking changes management’s focus from optimizing separate technologies, assets and vertical departments to optimizing the flow of products and services through entire value streams that flow across technologies, assets and departments to customers.

KAIZEN is a term that was used over three decades ago in the title of a groundbreaking book written by Masaaki Imai, “KAIZEN: The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success” (McGraw Hill). Since then, it has been used to describe a systematic approach for business improvement throughout an organization, including managers and workers—and companies that utilize KAIZEN realize continually superior results.

KAIZEN employs five fundamental principles of which implementation is fundamentally important to realize successful results.

Finally, 5S is a system for organizing spaces so that work is performed efficiently, effectively and safely. According to the 5S Today website, 5S focuses on putting everything where it belongs and keeping the workplace clean, which makes it easier for people to do their jobs without wasting time or risking injury.

The term 5S itself is traceable to five Japanese words which, when translated to English, mean: sort; set in order; shine; standardize; and sustain. Each “S” represents one part of a five-step process that can improve the overall function of an organization.

Why is all this important to you? Well, label converters can say they’re committed to quality. They can make claims that their products and processes are built around quality. But can they really back it up with internationally renowned programs and methods that standardize quality metrics?

At OMNI Systems, our utilization of Lean, Kaizen and 5S process improvement methods give customers the world over complete confidence that the thermal labels and complementary products they buy from us are manufactured to the highest quality standards—and that the company the produces them is committed to quality in every way.

Combined with the lowest prices anywhere on thermal labels, guaranteed on-time delivery and consultative expertise you won’t find elsewhere, our quality improvement methods are one more reason to Follow the Leaders at OMNI Systems.

We hope this blog helps you understand how Lean, Kaizen and 5S process improvement methods distinguish truly exceptional thermal label suppliers in a crowded marketplace. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how OMNI’s leadership in price, quality and service can help you save 15-40 percent on your current label spend and make your job easier.

Do you have questions about direct thermal labelsthermal transfer labelswater-activated tape or other labeling needs? Please contact OMNI Systems at 216-377-5160 or email sales@omnisystem.com.

OMNI Systems
Written by OMNI Systems

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