It's just into the new year, and most of us are probably either ditching our resolutions or really getting into the groove of our habit changes.  Here's something to consider before completely dropping your resolution:  applying the concepts of "lean" into your life.  It can be done in our personal lives, both at home and at work.

Lean isn't just for manufacturing, although that's the area in which it's used most.  It's a core principle or mission of continuous, relentless improvement and reduction of waste.  That is, wasted anything -- energy, time, raw material and more.  And that principle can apply to any process - whether in the office, the kitchen or on the production floor.  

How Does Lean Work?

At the core, it's a mindset.  It starts with a culture-driven desire to continually improve a process.  As the mindset develops, you and other team members will find yourselves constantly analyzing everything you do to determine if it will add value for the customer.  

Toyota is a name that has become synonymous with lean manufacturing since they began developing the method over 60 years ago.  Rather than reforming their production from the management perspective, they began with the employees, encouraging them to be a part of the production process.  This became known as "quality circles," which was a group of workers who meet to discuss workplace improvement.

As you can see, the improvement never stops.  Like The Balance says:  "Ultimately, your lean manufacturing processes need to support your company in delivering its customers with what those customers want, when those customers want it - and accomplish that by reducing costs."

What's The Link With Canisters?

Canisters fit perfectly in the realm of lean thinking thanks to their innate characteristics.  They lend themselves perfectly to waste reduction though the following abilities:

• 100% adhesive transfer from container to substrate
• Portability in all sizes
• Little or no equipment maintenance
• "Always on" and ready to spray
• Minimal setup and changeover time
• Reduced dry time
• Less mess and overspray

100% Adhesive Transfer

Simply put, all the glue that's in the canister when you get it can be used.  There's no residue in the container; it all gets to the place you want it to go.  So in comparison to the traditional bulk contact adhesive systems where refilling air sprayers can cause spills and there's leftover sticky stuff in the bottom of your drum or pail, canisters eliminate that waste.  

Portability

The canister system is designed to be portable and easy to set up at multiple gluing stations.  The Large (22L) size canister is generally light enough to carry to the location you need it.  This makes it great for jobs in the field, or smaller gluing stations in the production area.  Intermediates (108L) are ideal for larger stations but are still not too pricey to set up multiple stations.  The Jumbo canister is best for high-volume repetitive jobs, and can easily be moved with a forklift or pallet jack.  Intermediates and jumbos are both returnable when empty -- just contact us to find out how.

Equipment Maintenance

One of the shining beauties of canisters is the reduction of equipment maintenance.  The equipment only consists of a hose, gun and spray tip.  No big capital investments.  And unless you plan to leave the equipment unattached to a canister, the only thing that needs to be cleaned or maintained is the spray tip.  The most you'll need to do is clean up the tip using some S101. If you do plan to leave the equipment detached from a canister for any length of time, please check our Spraying Manual before detaching equipment.

Always On

Most TensorGrip canisters are immediately ready to spray whenever you need it.  Sure, we recommend trying it to be sure the quality is  the best possible, but that rarely takes much time or adhesive.  As long as the valve is left open on the canister, your canister will be awake and ready to use 24/7!

Minimal Setup & Changeover Time

With your first order, you'll get a ToolKit.  This includes everything you need to set up a canister.  Attach the gun to the hose, attach the hose to the canister, ensure tip is placed on gun and turn the canister valve on.  Spray.  That's all there is to setting up.  Turn off, detach and repeat to change to a new canister.  (Full details in the Spraying Manual)  Downtime is virtually nothing, just like it should be in a lean process!  

Reduced Dry Time

Thanks to the even spray of the canister technology, most contact adhesives dry faster when applied from a canister than from traditional air sprayers or other methods.  Of course, actual dry time depends on temperature and humidity.  We believe there are better things to do than sit around waiting for glue to dry!  

Less Mess and Overspray

Canister adhesives feature a fully adjustable spray, letting the operator get precision results and cut down on wasted glue.  Airborne particles have been proven to be reduced in canisters as well.

To Sum it Up...

TensorGrip canisters are the "lean" of adhesives.  Each product has been designed to make specific processes quicker and easier -- it's the essence of the Tensor brand.  The innovation which is at the core of Quin Global fits perfectly into continuous improvement.  Each day, we have team members dedicating hours to improving products and processes which will bring more value to customers and the workforce, letting you spend more time on what matters most to you -- not glue!

Have a suggestion?  Question?  Comment?  Get in touch.