Paul Akers and the FastCap team has a discussion about “having everything you need” after watching a video by The Lean Workshop called The Tsukubai Teaches Us About Lean (http://youtu.be/fMFng3TgfxY).

Paul Akers discusses keeping the rope tight. The lean principle of leaving it better then you found it.

Austin, who builds FastCap’s Laserjamb LJ3 Pro, came up with a very simple way to open and close the buckles on the case in seconds. The idea is based on the suggestion from Wes, who toured our factory a week ago. Great idea Wes! Great implementation Austin!

Paul Akers shows how he improved the picnic table at FastCap so that it will be easier to keep clean, with everything in its place. For more information on lean, visit 2 Second Lean.

Paul Akers explains how Callie came up with a great idea to put magnets on the end of the scooter handlebars. Now, it is not only a lean (and fun) way to get around FastCap. It also is a lean way to store the scooters not in use.

For more information on the magnets used in this solution (FastCap’s PowerMags), go to this link.

Think all the talk about Lean Manufacturing is a bit boring and all about charts and graphs? Read or listen to my lean manufacturing book online for free and be inspired by how easy and fun learning about lean culture, lean thinking and lean manufacturing can be. No flow charts or graphs, just the real life journey of one company and the astounding results a lean culture and lean thinking can produce. Take a few hours, read 2 Second Lean Book and change your life!

Join in the excitement of the folks that came to Bellingham, WA for a FastCap Facility Tour.

Tour Participants:
Charles Pankow Builders, Ltd.
Omniduct
Klime-Ezee
MBW, Inc.
AFP Metal Products
McGough Construction
Sundt Construction

Dale Hedges, of Omniduct, sent us this video recapping the FastCap Lean Tour. We have such a good time with these folks!

For more information on lean, visit 2 Second Lean.

Paul gives a quick example of what standardization looks like in a lean manufacturing plant. Even though things are standardized people can still screwed it up if they’re not respectful of a reasonable process.

For more information on lean, go to 2 Second Lean.

Are you interested in Lean Manufacturing? Well take a trip to the shop floor and see a lean factory tour at FastCap in Ferndale, Washington. Paul Akers is the founder and president of FastCap, based in Bellingham, WA. FastCap is an international product development company founded in 1997 with over 2000 distributors worldwide. A prolific inventor, Paul holds US and international patents. FastCap, launches approximately 20 new innovative products per year and has won business of the year multiple times. Paul and his wife, Leanne, have built FastCap from their garage into a multi-million dollar company. At its core, FastCap is a Lean company, determined to continuously improve everything, everyday. Our products reflect the idea that things can be improved and the best ideas come from the shop floor.