Episode 18 - Continuous Improvement Efforts and Different Types Of Waste

Everything looks stable. The KPIs are green, the output is steady, and the processes are documented.

But for many in defence and aerospace, a hidden risk is growing. When the "experts on the floor" the people who touch the components every day stop suggesting improvements, the process doesn't just plateau. It begins to fossilise.

Underutilised people’s skills is often called the "8th waste" of Lean manufacturing. In a sector where we are fighting to extend the life of 40-year-old electronics, this isn’t just an efficiency problem. It’s a decision-defensibility problem.

If your culture doesn't actively invite the "Gemba" to identify the next bottleneck, you are likely carrying a legacy risk that will only become visible when a project hits a critical delay.

In our latest episode of Force Tech Talk, Charlotte Hughes and Eder Fortes discuss why the most valuable asset in your semiconductor life-extension strategy isn't the equipment. It's the permission for your team to use their expertise.

The Discussion Covers:

• Why "experts" often stay silent in high-stakes manufacturing environments.
• Moving from "enforcing change" to "motivating change."
• How internal culture directly impacts the reliability of your supply chain.

The Call to Action: Are you chasing people, or are you chasing tasks?

Watch this full episode to see how we’re addressing the 8th waste at Force Technologies.

About Force Technologies: With 40 years of experience, Force Technologies specialises in providing solutions for obsolete semiconductors. By maintaining a culture of continuous improvement, we ensure that our MRO, Prime, and CEM partners can extend the life of their legacy systems with confidence