ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Humantech,
Inc. announced The Timken Company as the winner of its fifth
annual Find It – Fix It Challenge during a live webinar Friday.
The Find It – Fix It Challenge recognizes and rewards simple
and effective workplace solutions that result in increased
productivity, improved worker morale, and fewer workplace injuries
and illnesses. Honorable mentions for the Challenge were given to
John Deere Turf Care, located in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina and to the
Ashland Water Technologies site in Nantou, Taiwan. The contest was derived from
Humantech's Rapid Team Events®, which are based on the concept of
making quick, simple, visible changes to improve ergonomic issues
in the workplace. From over 200 entries received, representing 17
companies, one winner was selected and two honorable mentions were
recognized.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100210/TIMKENLOGO
)
Timken's Manchester Plant in Manchester, Connecticut, took top honors with
its Bull Gear Deburring Fixture entry. The associate responsible
for the task suggested an opportunity for improvement and the idea
went straight to the plant's safety manager. "Competing in the Find
It – Fix It Challenge is a great way to inspire our associates to
develop ergonomic solutions. This is a perfect example of
continuous improvements in our operations. We improved our
associates' work environment and employed lean processes to
streamline our manufacturing processes, reducing processing speed
and increasing quality levels," says Bob
Scott, Principal Ergonomics Engineer.
Timken's improvement focused on improving the deburring process
(finishing method in which rough edges of metal are smoothed) of a
planetary gear weighing more than 400 lbs. Prior to the
improvement, the operation was performed with the gear placed in a
horizontal position, requiring the operator to bend over to grind
the edges off the gear teeth. Because of the limited reach in
this position, the operator had to lift the gear multiple times
throughout the process to successfully deburr the entire component.
"Through teamwork and engineering problem-solving, we achieved
substantial ergonomics improvement by creating a fixture to hold
the gear in a vertical position, and using a roller system that
allows for fast and easy adjustment. Mounting the fixture on
a portable, adjustable table allows the associate to perform the
work more comfortably," says Scott
Amendola, EHS Analyst at Timken. "In less than four
months, the project also achieved its return on investment and has
improved customer service by reducing delivery times," he adds.
"Winning the Challenge is a great achievement that belongs to
our associates who are dedicated to making our workplace safer, and
we look forward to participating in next year's Find It – Fix It
Challenge," concludes Bob Scott.
John Deere Turf Care received an honorable mention with its
Mid-Z Eyebolt entry. Prior to the improvement, the operator
had to manually turn a nut on the eyebolt, three-quarters of the
way down, 240 times a day. By mounting an air tool to a
fixture with a foot control, the operator only has to start the
nut; the tool turns the nut to its required location on the eyebolt
within seconds.
Ashland Water Technologies also received an honorable mention
with its Raw Material Transfer entry. Prior to the improvement, the
operator had to break apart frozen material by striking it with a
stick. By providing equipment to compress the pail hard enough to
break the frozen material, the operator is no longer required to
manually strike the container, which eliminates all hand, leg and
back issues.
To view the recorded webinar announcing the winners and
highlighting the 15 finalists, please click here. The 2012
Find It – Fix It Challenge is scheduled to kick off in early
summer. For additional information about the winners or the 2012
kickoff, visit
http://www.humantech.com/about/find-it-fix-it-challenge
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HUMANTECH:
For over 30 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for
workplace improvements. By combining the science of ergonomics and
our unique 30-Inch View® -- where people, work, and environment
intersect -- we deliver practical solutions that impact safety,
quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we believe people make
productivity happen.
Companies that make the move from a reactive approach to
injuries to a proactive and/or advanced approach to workplace
design, find that ergonomics is central to executing business
strategy at the highest levels. Humantech helps companies identify
and quantify injury risk in the workplace, provides training and
consulting aimed at removing that risk, and delivers management
systems that embed these processes into a corporate culture.
Please visit us at www.humantech.com for more
information.
About The Timken Company
The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com) keeps the world
turning with innovative friction management and power transmission
products and services that help machinery perform efficiently and
reliably. With sales of $4.1 billion
in 2010 and 20,000 people operating from locations in 30 countries,
Timken is Where You Turn® for better performance.
Timken Contacts - Media: Lorrie Paul
Crum, Ofc: 330.471.3514; Mob: 330.224.5021.
lorrie.crum@timken.com; Investors: Steve
Tschiegg, Ofc: 330.471.7446. steve.tschiegg@timken.com, The
Timken Company.
Contact: Jennifer Sinkwitts
Tel. 734.663.3330 ext. 132
jsinkwitts@humantech.com
SOURCE The Timken Company