Prompting for Process Improvement
Continuous improvement is core to manufacturing excellence. AI can accelerate your improvement initiatives.
Scenario: Reducing Cycle Time
Good prompt: "I want to reduce cycle time on our assembly operation. Current state: 12-step manual assembly process, average cycle time is 8.5 minutes per unit, significant variation between operators (fastest is 6.5 minutes, slowest is 11 minutes), no standard work documentation currently exists. Our target is 7 minutes per unit. Help me design a process improvement project: how to document current state, identify waste and bottlenecks, develop standard work, implement improvements, and measure results. Give me a 90-day project plan with specific milestones and deliverables."
Scenario: Implementing Lean Manufacturing Principles
Good prompt: "I'm new to lean manufacturing and want to implement 5S in our machine shop, which has 15 machining centers and approximately 2,500 square feet of floor space. The shop is cluttered and disorganized, tools are difficult to find, inventory is scattered, and we waste significant time searching for things. I need a practical implementation guide: what 5S actually means in concrete terms for a machine shop, step-by-step implementation instructions, example labeling and organization strategies, how to get buy-in from operators who've worked here for years and resist change, and how to sustain improvements over time. Make this actionable for someone without lean expertise."
This prompt acknowledges a common challenge (operator resistance) and asks for practical change management guidance, not just technical process information.
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