October 10, 2022 Study Shows Unexpected Sources Reduce Productivity

Unexpected sources of motion and inventory waste reduce overall productivity in manufacturing facilities, according to research from Tork.

PHILADELPHIA – Improving productivity is key to maintaining peak performance of a manufacturing facility, and hinderances to operational productivity can often stem from unexpected – or unrecognized – obstacles. Finding hidden wastes to continuously improve can pose a challenge for manufacturers. However, research conducted by Tork, an Essity brand, reveals that a large number of machine operators are surprisingly interrupted at least 20 times during their workday by having to fetch or dispose of wiping and cleaning products. Furthermore, the study reveals that operators often take more wipers than needed to avoid these interruptions. In an effort to help companies combat waste, Tork has created the free Tork Motion Waste Calculator that allows companies to measure the impact of ineffective wiper placement.

Reducing waste in order to increase productivity is a core principle of Lean Manufacturing. Reductions in motion and inventory waste can come from unexpected places. As mentioned above, Tork conducted a study on this topic as part of its work to better understand these unknown sources of motion and inventory waste. The results show that when wipers are not conveniently placed, it can generate both motion and inventory waste, as well as cause stress among workers.

The study shows that:

• 44% of machine operators are interrupted at least 20 times during a workday to walk and fetch or dispose of wipers.
• 74% of machine operators take more wipers than needed for the task to avoid having to walk and fetch more each time.
• 69% of machine operators state that they get stressed if they are interrupted in their work when having a lot to do.
• 90% of machine operators say that if they were provided with professional industrial wipers close-by, it would help their workplace organization and work satisfaction.

Tork Performance® dispensing system – designed to fit every task

The solution to this productivity problem is to place wipers at the workstation so that machine operators don’t have to stop what they’re doing to fetch them. But as manufacturing environments are varied, it can be difficult to find a solution that fits every company. That’s why Tork Performance® dispensers have been designed with a range of unique and flexible mounting options, allowing them to be placed where they are needed the most – within reach of the machine operator. This design feature effectively removes the root cause of the motion and inventory waste shown by the study.

“Thanks to our understanding of the manufacturing environment, we are in a position to not only help companies identify new sources of waste, but also to provide them with a solution to the problem. Our innovative products can help companies continuously improve by reducing motion and inventory waste,” says Suzanne Serveiss, Regional Marketing Manager – Industry Segment.

New easy-to-use tool – Tork Motion Waste Calculator

In its efforts to support customers in their quest to reduce waste, Tork has developed a new easy-to-use tool: the Tork Motion Waste Calculator. This web-based tool will allow companies to get a quick understanding of how much the placement of dispensers really impacts productivity.

Click here to try the calculator!

To learn more about how to reduce motion and inventory waste and explore the Tork Performance dispensing system, please visit torkusa.com/reducewaste.

*Source: Tork machine operator research (July 2019)

For more information contact:
Kaitlyn Ward
Weber Shandwick
kward@webershandwick.com

About Tork
The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissue, soap, napkins, wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity, and a committed partner to customers in over 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit torkusa.com. 

About Essity
Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as JOBST, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 46,000 employees. Net sales in 2019 amounted to approximately $13.5 billion. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable, and circular society. More information at essity.com.

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