CheckMate

An operator may be achieving parity of ACTUAL and TARGET when at the work station but, without realising it, can easily lose 10 - 15 minutes each hour by excessive time losses in, for example, talking, daydreaming, smoking, late back from break, etc. CheckMate highlights this time lost. As rest allowances are usually part of the standard time for the job, the TARGET count continues to increase when the operator leaves the work place and, when the operator returns the PERFORMANCE % will be lower. The operator soon learns that less time away from the job leads to higher performance.

The CheckMate - OFF STANDARD MINUTES function ensures the percentage displayed is the operators performance On-Standard, while the cumulative time lost for genuine reasons outwith the operators control, i.e., machine breakdown, no work, etc., is recorded as downtime.

CheckMate, when applied correctly, will improve the operators output thereby improving earnings and the company PROFITS. It is important that CheckMate is introduced to a factory as an AID TO THE OPERATOR and should never be forced on any operator. If it is correctly introduced then the operators themselves will request to use a CheckMate since it can increase their earnings, reduce training or, re-training time.

It is IMPORTANT when CheckMate is introduced that the results are monitored closely so the company can clearly see the benefits and use CheckMate to achieve the optimum potential of the operators and achieve increased output.

CheckMate is used in the following areas:

The CheckMate is not designed to make operators work harder but rather to assist individual operators achieve their full potential. Management should never pay according to the CheckMate figures. Continue to use the existing work ticket system to check production for payment, then the operator has no incentive to cheat the CheckMate.

CheckMate can be applied to almost every operator in a plant and is designed to fit into any situation where there is a need or desire to improve performance.

How can we be certain that CheckMate will improve the operator's performance and output? Because, our customers tell us it does - time and time again - and they frequently achieve percentage increases much greater then 10%.

CheckMate APPLICATION

The most successful method to apply CheckMate is simply to teach the operators how the unit functions and then to allow them to monitor their own performance throughout the day with the minimum of management involvement. The initial learning process will only take the operator a very short time.

It is very important that operators are always aware that CheckMate is there to assist them to improve their performance. It should not be presented as a management or engineering/work study tool but as an operator aid.

It is best that operators, especially trainees, record production by pressing the remote input switch after each operation or cycle. Discussion with the operator will determine the most convenient location for the switch and to ensure that reaching for the switch occurs within the normal motion path. Experience has shown that the interaction between CheckMate and the operator is more positive and maximum gains are achieved if the operator has a say in setting up the CheckMate . It is unusual to make an allowance for pressing the input switch if while using CheckMate the operators output and earnings significantly increase, and there is little likelihood of objections to doing this.

Operators are never paid from the information displayed on CheckMate, the existing method of checking their output is continued.

By using CheckMate in this manner training times will reduce by approximately 20%, and the performance of experienced operators will increase by a minimum of 5% in a very short period of time. Once the correct method and quality criteria are satisfied trainees use CheckMate for the duration of the training period. Experienced operators, or re-trainees, will normally use CheckMate for 3 - 4 weeks at a time. While the performance often rises quickly operators should be discouraged from improving too quickly. The CheckMate assists operators become accustomed to a higher level of activity and this should be achieved in stages, trainees improving by say 5% every day or so, whereas this level of improvement may take a week or two with experienced operators.

CheckMate can be used in almost any situation where there is the need or willingness to improve productivity. The most significant achievements are made in training.