The Concept of the Andon Cord in Lean Manufacturing

The Andon cord is a concept from lean manufacturing, specifically used in Toyota plants, where pulling the cord stops the production line not for emergencies but to highlight process issues. By pulling the cord for minor issues like running out of size eight bolts, problems are escalated, and a collaborative effort is made to prevent recurrence. The frequent use of the Andon cord at the start helps identify and resolve underlying problems, leading to smoother operations over time.