Evidence
Read together, the timers are likely set longer than the parts need, and a short check would show it.
On our visit
Cooling timers, large presses
05:12, 06:48, 08:20 and 10:26All four cooling timers we read here were round numbers, a sign of a margin set by habit.
Counted by eye on frames of our video
Cooling timers, small presses
13:40, 15:05 and 17:22The three timers we read at the small presses were round numbers too.
Counted by eye on frames of our video
How staff set the timers
07:28 to 07:37Plant staff told us a timer is set "safe" when a job starts, then left if the parts are good.
Said by plant staff during our visit
Cycle time on one screen
08:24On one screen, cooling took 20 of the 31 seconds in each cycle, about two thirds.
Checked by eye on a frame of our video
Plant records
Longest-running jobs
Five jobs ran about 18,000 press hours in twelve months. A second off their cycle is worth most.
The ERP job log, twelve months
Orders shipped late
About one order in seven shipped late, so orders do wait for presses and can fill freed hours.
The ERP's shipping record, twelve months