How does OV-700 support the implementation of 3S/5S and LEAN Manufacturing?

Standardizing Tool Management – The First Step Towards Building a Lean Factory

In modern manufacturing environments, especially precision machining factories, productivity depends not only on machinery or technology but also on the ability to manage the production floor scientifically and efficiently. This is precisely why management methods such as 3S/5S and LEAN Manufacturing are increasingly adopted by businesses to eliminate waste, improve productivity, and build a professional working environment. However, in reality, maintaining 3S/5S and implementing LEAN Manufacturing is not simple. Many businesses have established processes, regulations, and organized periodic evaluations, but the effectiveness has not met expectations due to a lack of suitable management support tools.

Common Difficulties When Implementing 3S/5S and LEAN Manufacturing

In many factories, activities related to tool and component management are still performed manually. This leads to numerous issues directly impacting production efficiency.

Non-standardized tool storage locations cause employees to waste time searching or to move multiple times to retrieve the correct tool needed. Many tools are stored in different locations between production shifts or departments, reducing the effectiveness of the Set in Order (Seiton) activity in 5S.

Furthermore, the lack of real-time data makes it difficult for businesses to control inventory status, borrowing/returning history, and the current location of tools. This can lead to lost items, duplicate purchases, excess inventory, or production interruptions due to the inability to find necessary tools.

In LEAN Manufacturing, activities such as searching for tools, waiting, unnecessary movement, manual inventory checks, or handling inventory discrepancies are all considered forms of waste that do not add value. If not effectively controlled, these wastes will reduce productivity and increase a business's operating costs.

OV-700 Helps Standardize Storage Locations and Supports 5S Maintenance

One of the important principles of 5S is that every item must have a clear, easily identifiable, and accessible storage location. OV-700 was developed to help businesses standardize the management of tools and components in the factory. The system allows for managing the storage location of each tool, supports identification via QR codes, and centralizes data storage on a digital platform. As a result, employees can quickly identify the location of the tool they need, reducing search time and enhancing discipline in maintaining 5S on the production floor.

Reduce Search Time – Eliminate One of the Most Common Wastes

In many factories, searching for tools might seem to take only a few minutes, but when accumulated across the number of personnel and operating hours throughout the year, this can become a significant waste. OV-700 supports real-time management of tool borrowing and returning history, allowing users to quickly determine:

• Where the tool is
• Who is using it
• When it was borrowed and returned
• Current inventory status

Thanks to quick retrieval capabilities, search time is significantly reduced, helping workers focus more on value-adding tasks for production.

Enhance Visual Management on the Production Floor

Visual Management is one of the important foundations of LEAN Manufacturing. When information is displayed clearly and transparently, abnormal issues can be detected and resolved faster. OV-700 provides an intuitive dashboard system to help businesses monitor:

• Real-time inventory status
• Tool usage history
• Tool consumption rate
• Inbound and outbound inventory data
• Statistics by department or user

Digitizing data not only enhances management capabilities but also creates a foundation for continuous improvement (Kaizen) activities in the factory.

Reduce Loss and Optimize Inventory

One of the major challenges for many manufacturing businesses is controlling high-value tools and components. By digitizing the entire management process, OV-700 helps businesses:

• Reduce the risk of lost tools
• Limit duplicate purchases
• Reduce excess inventory
• Enhance inventory data accuracy
• Support traceability when needed

These benefits directly contribute to the goal of waste reduction and resource optimization according to the LEAN Manufacturing philosophy.

OV-700 – A Solution Developed from Practical Machining Experience

Unlike many solutions developed from a software or automation perspective, OV-700 was researched and manufactured by Ohnoseiko Vietnam – a company with many years of experience in precision machining. During factory operations, Ohnoseiko directly faced issues such as lost tools, difficulty controlling inventory, wasted time searching, and a lack of data for production improvement. From these practical experiences, OV-700 was developed to effectively and sustainably solve problems arising on the production floor. The system supports:

• Automatic tool borrowing/returning management
• Real-time inventory management
• Usage history and data traceability management
• Login via RFID or authorized accounts
• Cloud and API connectivity with ERP, MES
• QR Code and IoT support
• Remote software updates via OTA (Over-The-Air) technology
• Intuitive data reporting and analysis

To successfully implement 3S/5S and LEAN Manufacturing, businesses not only need to establish processes but also require support tools to maintain discipline, visuality, and continuous improvement capabilities on the production floor.

With its ability to standardize storage locations, reduce search time, eliminate waste, enhance visuality, and digitize management data, OV-700 is not just a smart cabinet but also a practical solution that helps businesses improve operational efficiency and progressively build a Smart Factory.