RK Easywork-Workplaces for Lean Production

The Swiss company Bircher Reglomat AG implements its philosophy of "Lean Production" with impressive consistency.  It requires a lot of attention to detail to harmonise all production sequences while allowing that each employee has competency and responsibility. Therefore, investments in technical equipment must meet special demands.

Assembly of pressure wave switches in One-Piece-Flow

RK Easywork in use. The height adjustment reaches from 828 mm to 1,326 mm.

The specialist for pressure-sensitive and contactless sensors does not only develop its products for automatic doors and gates but also for the field of public transport and industrial technology.

The pressure wave switch is one of its elementary components whose assembly is modernized and integrated in the One-Piece-Flow. With this, each DW-switch is mounted completely by one employee. The required components string together and the employee goes continuously along with the progress of the assembly.

Even-tempered dynamics

Clean lines in the workplace ergonomics for the implementation of "Lean-Production“

The process can be described most appropriately with even-tempered dynamics.  The components are mounted and checked for functioning at the standing workplace without hectic but with continuous energy. "In a sitting position, such an efficiency would be unimaginable." the production manager comments.

This way of production requires equipment that helps to practically implement this efficiency and a comfortable mode of working. The work place system "RK Easywork“ made by Rose+Krieger could satisfy Bircher's needs best.
 

RK Easywork

Assembly manager Brigitte Nüssle (on the right) giving instructions

Brigitte Nüssle, the responsible person for the assembly of the DW-switches, saw the workplace system during a trade fair at the stand of the Phoenix Mecano Komponenten AG and was convinced of the functionality, the stability and the design. Back in her office, she activated the online-configurator on the manufacturer's homepage and tried several workplace variants.

"After a short time, I had assembled the desired motor-controlled adjustable workplace myself, which was best suitable for the employees and the production process." Nüssle remembered.
 

Online-Configurator

Go step by step through the clearly arranged Configurator on the Internet. www.rk-konfigurator.eu

Via Internet - it is not necessary to download software - the visitor is lead step by step through all possibilities of the configurator:  www.rk-konfigurator.eu.

After the selection of one of the four table variants - static height, manual adjustment and two variants of motor-controlled height adjustment - the dimensions are given accurately to the millimetre.

The frame structure for holding the lighting, grab containers, tools and socket strip is calculated depending on the before chosen desk width. The power supply can be selected depending on the country. Several table tops, as well as the optional vision protector leave a lot of freedom in designing. Various drawers can be selected before the completion of the configuration. With this, the configuration of the table is finished and you receive an offer with 3D image and CAD data for the integration in your own planning.
 

Implementation and daily routine

In coordination with the production management, Brigitte Nüssle had the details checked again on site by experts of the Phoenix Mecano Komponenten AG.

"The whole process of ordering, delivery and installation was as agreed and we could directly start the integration into our Lean Production system." Nüssle praises the smooth flow.

"After some months of daily routines, we can realise a noticeable improvement of the work conditions and a considerable increase of productivity, which is unanimously confirmed by the employees." Nüssle added. The motor-controlled height adjustment of the tables to the ergonomically ideal work position was especially popular.

Now, 6 workplaces of the type RK Easywork are being used at Bircher. "Plans for the extension are in progress." Brigitte Nüssle says.

Please find further information:
www.bircher-reglomat.com

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Press contact:

Daniel Oswald
Marketing
publicrelation(at)rk-online.de