Swinburne University of Technology and Kennedy Trailers

Kennedy Trailers, an equipment design and manufacturing company which makes large trailers used by logging trucks, immersed its staff in lean manufacturing when the company reviewed all operations as part of its move to larger premises in Bairnsdale.

After training was delivered by Swinburne University's Centre for New Manufacturing, more than
100 improvement ideas were generated by employees. Half of these have so far been implemented, according to Garry Kennedy, Managing Director, Kennedy Trailers.

"In February 2009 we achieved a record output of nine trailers. Our previous best output was eight trailers in a month," Mr Kennedy said. "This equated to a 12.5 per cent production increase, achieved with 20 per cent fewer employees in a short month with no overtime required."

Lean improvements included:

• stock racks simplified and clearly labelled with re-order points and stocks of material reduced
• laser-cutting of steel components to improve quality, reduce handling and stock storage needs
• tools mounted on mobile boards so they can be moved to trailers
• color-coding to define work stations, benches and equipment, with all paperwork and drawings for each trailer individually color-coded.

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