Comments on: Laundry Kaizen http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/ Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma, and Kaizen Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:21:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cornelio Abellanas http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-6504 Cornelio Abellanas Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:02:56 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-6504 Have you given some thought to the size of the laundry hampers? If they are larger than the machine capacity there will be some cloths left over for the next washing. But don't forget that the hamper is a LIFO: the last thing you put in is the first that will be washed. This means that some items may stay at the bottom of the bin for ever! Obviously you can sort this out by always emptying the bin even if you do not fill the washer (waste). Maybe a second derivative of your clasifying hampers would be to make them FIFO! Have you given some thought to the size of the laundry hampers?
If they are larger than the machine capacity there will be some cloths left over for the next washing. But don’t forget that the hamper is a LIFO: the last thing you put in is the first that will be washed. This means that some items may stay at the bottom of the bin for ever!
Obviously you can sort this out by always emptying the bin even if you do not fill the washer (waste).
Maybe a second derivative of your clasifying hampers would be to make them FIFO!

]]> By: How to Fold a T-Shirt in Two Motions | Lean Six Sigma Academy http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-4672 How to Fold a T-Shirt in Two Motions | Lean Six Sigma Academy Sun, 13 Jun 2010 05:17:20 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-4672 [...] recently wrote a post about laundry kaizen… I now have the knowledge needed to take things to the next level. Check it [...] [...] recently wrote a post about laundry kaizen… I now have the knowledge needed to take things to the next level. Check it [...]

]]> By: Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Habits http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-4028 Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Habits Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:54:23 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-4028 [...] 1) when people bring “work” ideas to their personal life – Visual Management and Self-Reliance, Laundry Kaizen. [...] [...] 1) when people bring “work” ideas to their personal life – Visual Management and Self-Reliance, Laundry Kaizen. [...]

]]> By: Ron Pereira http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2378 Ron Pereira Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:36:38 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2378 Very nice, John! Thanks for the kind words and for sharing the picture. All the best. Very nice, John! Thanks for the kind words and for sharing the picture. All the best.

]]> By: John http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2375 John Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:04:52 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2375 I'm impressed. I found this site a few days looking for introductory info on value stream maps, and it was very helpful. This article jumped out at me because my wife implemented a similar system sometime last year. However, instead of the labels she put swatches of fabric and string on the outside of the bins so our kids could sort their own clothes: http://john.rozmaryn.googlepages.com/Laundry.jpg I’m impressed. I found this site a few days looking for introductory info on value stream maps, and it was very helpful. This article jumped out at me because my wife implemented a similar system sometime last year. However, instead of the labels she put swatches of fabric and string on the outside of the bins so our kids could sort their own clothes: http://john.rozmaryn.googlepages.com/Laundry.jpg

]]> By: GrahamC http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2356 GrahamC Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:03:35 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2356 One suggestion is that each laundry type is right-sized to match one laundry load so you are automatically triggered to run a wash whenever you hit the optimum level. The more they are spread out, the eaiser it should be to hang them up for drying or shoving in the tumble dryer (cycle time mismatch between washing and drying? :P ) and fit them into smaller windows of time rather than having to set aside a day or whatever. It would also be a good visual indicator for Ron to put stuff in the washing machine whenver he sees it's full, rather than leaving it as a specialist task for one individual. (you could even add the washing instructions to the back side of your tag - "delicates" etc) One suggestion is that each laundry type is right-sized to match one laundry load so you are automatically triggered to run a wash whenever you hit the optimum level. The more they are spread out, the eaiser it should be to hang them up for drying or shoving in the tumble dryer (cycle time mismatch between washing and drying? :P ) and fit them into smaller windows of time rather than having to set aside a day or whatever.

It would also be a good visual indicator for Ron to put stuff in the washing machine whenver he sees it’s full, rather than leaving it as a specialist task for one individual. (you could even add the washing instructions to the back side of your tag – “delicates” etc)

]]> By: Owen Berkeley-Hill http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2352 Owen Berkeley-Hill Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:13:07 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2352 Loved the post, but as a Black Belt I would have worries about capability (6 Sigma) regarding sorting. As a male, I think I would have a slight problem with my whites, lights and darks, but "delicates"???? The post reminded me of W Heath Robinson whose name entered the language for reasons which become obvious when you see his cartoons. I'm not sure if, "a bit Heath Robinson" has crossed the pond, but he still brings a smile, and I do believe he was one of the forgotten/unrewcognised heroes of the Lean movement. Take a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Robinson and enjoy. And remember Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge". Loved the post, but as a Black Belt I would have worries about capability (6 Sigma) regarding sorting. As a male, I think I would have a slight problem with my whites, lights and darks, but “delicates”????
The post reminded me of W Heath Robinson whose name entered the language for reasons which become obvious when you see his cartoons. I’m not sure if, “a bit Heath Robinson” has crossed the pond, but he still brings a smile, and I do believe he was one of the forgotten/unrewcognised heroes of the Lean movement.
Take a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Robinson and enjoy. And remember Einstein, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.

]]> By: Dirk Van Goubergen http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2349 Dirk Van Goubergen Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:26:26 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2349 As I am building a new house, I redesigned the layout to minimize the waste of transportation and motion caused by the flow of laundry. Most dirty laundry comes from either the bathroom or the sleeping rooms, so I reserved one space on the same floor (2nd), next to the bathroom, where I will put the sorter, washing machine, dryer, wardrobes and everything needed for ironing. As I am building a new house, I redesigned the layout to minimize the waste of transportation and motion caused by the flow of laundry.
Most dirty laundry comes from either the bathroom or the sleeping rooms, so I reserved one space on the same floor (2nd), next to the bathroom, where I will put the sorter, washing machine, dryer, wardrobes and everything needed for ironing.

]]> By: Ron Pereira http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2346 Ron Pereira Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:17:11 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2346 Hi, this is Ron's wife, Genni. I bought the sorter (which actually comes with 4 sorter bags) at Walmart. I needed a bigger slot for colors so I jimmied it a bit. I have no idea what the "lean" way to fold clothes is but I try to do all my laundry in one day a week. By doing this it forces me to keep the laundry going. Because my main priorities (the kids) don't always allow for me to sit and fold right away sometimes the loads are just thrown all on the couch until I have a minute. Ideally, I like to fold them as they come out the dryer minimizing wrinkles and sorting into bins for the kids to take up and put away when all their clothes are folded. As for mine and my husband's clothes I try to put these away as I fold them (as well as towels, sheets, etc). My next step as the kids get a little older is to hang the pretreater by the hamper and have them spray stains before they throw in their sorter. Hi, this is Ron’s wife, Genni. I bought the sorter (which actually comes with 4 sorter bags) at Walmart. I needed a bigger slot for colors so I jimmied it a bit. I have no idea what the “lean” way to fold clothes is but I try to do all my laundry in one day a week. By doing this it forces me to keep the laundry going. Because my main priorities (the kids) don’t always allow for me to sit and fold right away sometimes the loads are just thrown all on the couch until I have a minute. Ideally, I like to fold them as they come out the dryer minimizing wrinkles and sorting into bins for the kids to take up and put away when all their clothes are folded. As for mine and my husband’s clothes I try to put these away as I fold them (as well as towels, sheets, etc). My next step as the kids get a little older is to hang the pretreater by the hamper and have them spray stains before they throw in their sorter.

]]> By: Sue Dempsey http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/comment-page-1/#comment-2345 Sue Dempsey Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:47:20 +0000 http://lssacademy.com/2008/08/02/laundry-kaizen/#comment-2345 My husband reads your blog and he shared this post with me. I love the advice and would like to know where your wife bought this laundry sorter. Also, do (or your readers) you have any advice on folding as this is my least favorite part of laundry. Do you fold a load and bring them to the correct place or wait until all folding is done and bring it all at once? My husband reads your blog and he shared this post with me. I love the advice and would like to know where your wife bought this laundry sorter. Also, do (or your readers) you have any advice on folding as this is my least favorite part of laundry. Do you fold a load and bring them to the correct place or wait until all folding is done and bring it all at once?

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