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This is a manufacturing term referring to a system to notify management, maintenance, and other workers of a quality or process problem. An Andon system is one of the principal elements of the Jidoka quality-control method pioneered by Toyota and now part of the Lean methodology. It gives the worker the ability to stop production when a defect is found, and immediately call for assistance. Work is stopped until a solution has been found. The alerts may be logged to a database so that they can be studied as part of a continuous-improvement program. The system typically indicates where the alert was generated, and may also provide a description of the trouble. What is Andon? Japanese translation: LanternA visual control that enables the operator to inform the Team Leader (or responsible line cover) that an abnormal condition exists. Note: IT IS NOT A TOOL TO STOP THE LINE, IT IS IN FACT A TOOL TO KEEP THE LINE RUNNING Is activated by : the process operator manuallyautomatically by links to equipment Provides real time information Trigger for problem solving Prevents concerns being passed onto the next process ie Supports JIDOKA Andon is a key driver towards Lean Manufacturing. For Andon to be successful it must be:
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