April Q&E Kaizen 4/14/10: Improved Resevoir visual

Before:  Power steering fluid resevoir level hard to see due to white on white plastic letters.

After: Outling markings with a black permanent marker makes it much easier to see.

Benefits:

• Easier to see fluid level
• Can view fluid level from a distance without bending over (less back strain)

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer

April QEK Kaizen 4/12/10: Use it up, wear it out, make it do...

Before: My son wanted to wash the car but the garden hose end was "customized" by an unfriendly lawn mower.  He had to go back and forth a long way to shut the water off between scrubbing sections of the vehicle and wasted a lot of water in the process.

After: He kinked the hose and placed it under the tire and controlled the flow of water between uses.

Benefits:

• Eliminated 90% of the wasted motion going back and forth to turn on and off the hose.
• Reduced water waste
• Used existing hose without purchasing a replacement
• Reduce teen boredom and annoyance

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer

April Q&E Kaizen 4/11/10: Ending discord in my garage

Before: Electrical plugs in a garage outlet would fall out with the slightest of pulling and it always happened when I was on the opposite end of the extension cord.   I estimate this running to plug back in the cord over and over wasted about 15 minutes/year.

After:  I replaced the outlet because I found that the problem was with a broken plastic section under the ground pin.




Results:

• Saved 15 minutes a year
• Less frustration
• Improved safety

What did I wait so long??????  Some people say that Kaizen is nothing special and that it is common sense.  If that is true then why are there so many problems that people put up with when a small improvement would make it so much better?   If Kaizen is common sense, why isn't everyone doing it?

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer

April Q&E Kaizen: Solar powered defrost

Before: Had to scrape the frost off my windshield in the morning.

After: Parked the car facing east.  When the sun comes up it melts the frost off.

Results:

• No scraping off the winshield
• Save time 

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer

April Q&E Kaizen 4/8/2010: Is your mechanic telling the truth?

Knowledge is power.  How do you know if it's time to change the transmission fluid or do you take the word of your car guy?  Here's an easy way to check the all the fluid conditions yourself and to see if they really need to be changed!

Before:  I didn't really know what car fluids were dirty except the motor oil because I didn't have access to a reference of new clean fluids.  I was at the mercy of the mechanic because I wasn't sure about the fluid condition.

After:  I made myself five reference vials of new radiator coolant, transmission oil, power sterring fluid, brake fluid, and motor oil.  Now I can compare the condition of the fluids in the car to see if maintenance is needed and they are in the garage next to the car for easy access.

Benefits:

No more guessing-I know what new fluid should look like and can compare fluid in cars

Easy access to vials for comparison

Improved quality and better preventive maintenance decisions (along with following the maintenance schedule of the drivers manual)

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer

April Q&E Kaizen 4/5/2010: Get to the front of the bank line

Before:  I had to go to the bank when it opened today but five people were ahead of me waiting for the doors to open.

After: Both the lobby and the drive through opened at the same time-9AM.  No one was waiting in the drive-thru so I went there and it opened the same time as the bank doors.

Results: 

• First in line at the drive-thru window with one one in front of me
• Transaction time was 3.5 minutes
• Reduced wasted motion having to get out of the car and to the teller window
• Saved time

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever. Kaizeneer

April Q&E Kaizen 4/5/2010: Keeping her car "M.I.N.T.Y." fresh...

My daughter recently purchased her first car, a light green Saturn from a friend in college.  It's a nice little vehicle that checked out well with a clean carfax, a great inspection, lots of preventive maintenance, and the service records all the way back when the car was new.  She named the car "Minty" and I decided to make an acronym out of the name so that she could have an easy checklist of things to inspect when she fills up the tank.  Since this is her first foray into auto care, I wanted her to learn from the beginning how to maintain Minty for a long time.

Before: She didn't know how to maintain and do preventative maintenance to the car.

After: Use the "M.I.N.T.Y." acronym when she stops at a gas station for an easy checklist of vehicle maintenance items.

M - Maintain the interior by removing trash and uneeded items to keep it clean
I - Inspect the fluids - check all the fluids under the hood such as wiper fluid, coolant, steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and oil. (Another Q&E Kaizen was to show her all the places to check fluids using the "clockwise" method)
N-Nose around the exterior by walking around the car looking for any damage to windows, lights, doors, etc.
T-Tire review - look for tire inflation and overall condition
Y-Your hoses and belts - quick inspection of hose and belts for cracks and wear.

Benefits:

• Improved preventative car care
• Easy way to remember checklist 
• Confidence by knowing what to do to keep a car well maintained

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer.