Enhancing Shop Floor Information through Digitalization for an Architectural Veneer Process

The aim of this project was to support an architectural wood veneer manufacturing company improve communication across its shop floor by implementing a digitalized process. Prior to the start of the project, the company used paper as its means of communication and printed all plans for individual orders. Various copies were distributed throughout the shop floor which followed the pieces around the plant to the respective processing steps. If an adjustment needed to be made to the work order, it was either drawn onto the sheet or reprinted and redistributed with the new adjustments. Oftentimes, operators down the line could not read the adjustments because of poor handwriting or organization of notes. A new process needed to be implemented that eliminated confusion among workers and consolidated all information onto one platform accessible to all necessary individuals at any given time. The requirements of the solution also included allowing employees the ability to edit files in real-time by multiple people simultaneously while remaining organized. Root causes of the miscommunication were identified using a fishbone diagram, failure modes and effects analysis, and value stream map, among other industrial engineering tools. Using a solution priority matrix, a final solution was identified from ten potential solutions. The final recommended solution eliminated various wastes, including paper, time, and energy for the company, ultimately providing improved communication practices for the company.