La-Z-Boy changing production lines to compete with China [the broken link was removed]:
“Basically, we will have teams building the chairs from start to finish,” said La-Z-Boy Midwest Human Relations Manager Billy Meyer. “Right now, we have three cells up and running, but by the end of the transition, we will have 37 cells.”
Great news. It is good when companies take the improvement strategy to cope with changes in the marketplace.
“This is now a three-hour process from start to finish in the cell, “said La-Z-Boy Midwest production manager Bill Snow. “The process ends with a 12-point inspection. The cell members will not get paid for the piece until it is taken to where it will boxed. But eventually, boxing will take place in the cell as well.”
I agree with Mark Graban that a piece rate pay system is a bad idea.