Think of your manufacturing plant as an International Airport, and MECTS SET GO as your Flight Simulator & Air Traffic Control Tower:
Main Horizontal Stream = Runway: The main runway where finished goods fly out directly to the customer.
Vertical Feeders (Above/Below) = Regional Feeder Flights: Sub-assemblies, press shops, or rework loops landing vertically onto the main runway.
Push Arrows = Blind Launches: Launching planes onto taxiways without checking if runway space is open (creates congested WIP holding queues).
Pull Loops = Radio Signals: Planes stay at terminal gates until the air traffic controller gives an explicit signal that space is clear.
Takt Time = Flight Schedule Clock: The exact tick-tock rate required so every customer plane lands precisely on time.
Kaizen Bursts = Tactical Upgrades: Installing high-speed refueling pumps (SMED) or autonomous radar (TPM) to clear turbulence.
Purpose & Usage: Represents a primary value-add manufacturing or assembly operation running horizontally from left (Supplier) to right (Customer).
Functionality: Captures Cycle Time (C/T), Setup Changeover (C/O), Machine Uptime %, Scrap Rate %, Operators (#), and Upstream WIP inventory.
Purpose & Usage: Represents an upstream component or sub-assembly feeder line (e.g. Stamping, Wire Harness, Sub-Bracket) positioned vertically ABOVE a main process step.
Functionality: Feeds downward or upward into the main process with customizable directional push/pull arrows, C/T, C/O, and WIP counts.
Purpose & Usage: Represents an offline branch operation, quality inspection loop, washing, or rework station placed vertically BELOW a main process box.
Functionality: Stacks vertically beneath the main step with independent metrics and directional arrow linkages.
Purpose & Usage: Standard VSM fat striped arrow indicating an unscheduled batch movement where parts are pushed to the next workstation regardless of immediate downstream demand.
Functionality: Renders a classic yellow/amber striped arrow body with a WIP queue callout box.
Purpose & Usage: Directional push arrow pointing downward (⬇️), linking an ABOVE feeder line into the main stream or main stream down to a sub-branch.
Functionality: Includes vertical striped arrow body with downward arrowhead and WIP batch counts.
Purpose & Usage: Directional push arrow pointing upward (⬆️), returning material from a BELOW rework branch back up to the main stream.
Functionality: Displays upward arrowhead with vertical striped body and WIP queue badge.
Purpose & Usage: Lean pull system where production is authorized only when the downstream process consumes a unit, pulling from a Supermarket buffer via Kanban signals.
Functionality: Renders green pull loop icons and buffer inventory thresholds.
Purpose & Usage: Controls pull withdrawals between vertical feeder sub-processes and the main stream.
Functionality: Displays vertical pull direction arrows and supermarket buffer capacities.
Purpose & Usage: First-In, First-Out sequence conduit that limits maximum inventory buffer between steps without creating a full supermarket.
Functionality: Renders standard FIFO lane markings with max piece capacity limits.
Purpose & Usage: Shows scheduling and order signals. Electronic flow (lightning bolt) represents SAP/ERP EDI forecasts. Manual flow (thin arrow) represents physical work orders or dispatch lists.
Purpose & Usage: Lean symbols attached before or after processes to mark improvement opportunities (Kaizen burst), raw WIP piles (triangle), pull stockpoints (supermarket), or Kanban signal loops.
Purpose & Usage: Complete suite of controls in the sticky header bar to insert new elements, review Lean equations, inspect the A3 diagnostic report, re-calculate Takt time, or download a clean PDF document.
Purpose & Usage: Direct quick-action controls on every process box card. Click + Add ABOVE or + Add BELOW to instantly spawn vertical feeder lines without opening complex forms.