how many hours

[Ihavenoname]

after thinking over Six Sigma Lean production and the art of quality and craftsmanship, I can see why we live a world of junk.

When you apply Six Sigma to productions you don't create products of high quality you product products of high production quality. This is why we are seeing a steep decline in the quality of products as they are produced faster and faster and faster for cheaper and cheaper. Hence the $300 sofa from Ashly Furniture versus the $3000 restoration of a 1940 tufted sofa.

I was wrong in thinking that automation and systematization of a high quality process was the key to high quality products. In contrast, it is the key to low quality high production products.

As I thought about it, there can be very little difference between a Toyota and a Lexus simply because the system can not stand differences in materials and outcome. In other words if you have 5 colors of paint for Toyota as the basis, you can have 7 colors for Lexus and call them an upgrade,  but the upgrade is limited to only color not quality or effect of paint. IF you went with a high quality paint for Lexus, then you are effecting the system with a less predictable outcome which will take more skilled labor time. This is a no no in learn production.

It's color, body trim and marketing that makes Lexus better then Toyota not higher quality. If Toyota is running at 99.87% efficiency then to change the production and materials drastically from Toyota to Lexus then you have a decrease in the system. There is no way. In other words, You have the marketing department take care of branding and maintain the system.

So in upholstery, we see again a lower and lower form of quality with higher and higher production based on the speed and ease of production. Any increase in product quality means a lowering of production and ease of production requiring higher and higher skilled workers.  Again not Lean Six Sigam.

For the skilled upholstery shop, it is time of skilled cognitive labor that makes the product of higher quality.

Quality Value = skill + focused effort.
Lean Production Value = Ease of Manufacturing + Predictable Outcome

Yep I think to much.

[fragged8]

been there done that, when i was a corporate robot
it was all SPC Statistical Process Control.

I'm so glad i can drink tea while i work slowly .. :o


Rich

[gene]

Custom work can never compete with volume work. If it does, it is no longer custom work.

I have been hearing comments for awhile now about the lack of quality in fabric coming out of China. Today I was told about a large check pattern that was so loosely woven that the check would not stay square while hanging as window treatments. Ouch!

COM's are getting scarier and scarier.

gene