Being a man of a certain age I have an inbuilt rage against waste, wherever I come across it. Even to the point of resenting filling the car up with petrol as I'm sure I could be doing someting better with that time. And don't get me started on shopping. Or rather do becuase even in technology, design and test it is becoming more like buyng a mobile phone contract. So many options, offers and deals.
So with this blog let's share our infuriation with waste (Why am I in this meeting? Why won't the sales rep just tell me what I need and go away? Why has that spec just changed? Why can't I design it this way? Why can't I build it this way? Why can't I get support for it?)
To begin we can refelect on core continuous improvement techniques within LEAN and refer to the basic 7 wastes
1. Over Production
2. Wait Time
3. Transportation
4. Processing
5. Inventory
6. Motion
7. Defects
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muda_(Japanese_term)
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BbiteTom
Let's take an example that could be categorised as Processing Waste and for test engineers that can be getting a good connection. That can be an electrical connection for an oscilloscope or voltmeter; ensuring the little grabbers of a logic analyser are actually attached and working and if you move to teh very hoigh end of frequency it becomes both costly, time consuming and critical
e.g. Connectors, adapters, and calibration standards in the millimeter-wave frequency range (26 GHz to 70 GHz) are VERY expensive. Although all connectors eventually wear, with knowledge, care, and proper technique, you can easily maximize the accuracy, repeatability, and useful lifetime of coaxial connectors. This Ap Note really addresses these issues
http://na.tm.agilent.com/pna/connectorcare/Connector_Care.htm
Every now and again it is worth recording actual test time as like any calibration it can drift. That can lead you to consider new adapters or probes or a process change.
Do you have Ap notes for other connection or probing issues?
LStacey
I know a man that probably will. I'll point him this way.
LStacey
I recommend that EVERYONE take note of these.
The important thing to remember when developing or looking at your processes is that absolutely anything that doesn't deliver value is waste. If it's waste, you need to whittle away at it and remove as much as possible.
You don't have to go full on step change to start with, just be aware of what waste is and think about how you can go about removing it.
It makes sense.