WMS Gaming Improves Sales Order Process with Kaizens

WMS Gaming is a manufacturer of slot machines, video lottery terminals and software to help casinos manage their gaming operations. The Las Vegas, Nevada division provides installation, repair, refurbishment and EPROM (erasable programmable read only memory) burning to customers throughout the Southwest. WMS employs 275 people.
 
The EPROM room at WMS is responsible for providing the field with accurate and legal software permanently ‘burned’ on chips for installation in games. This department worked overtime and borrowed other department employees to keep up with production schedules. Paperwork barriers and poor layout continuously interfered with paperwork flow. WMS had been a client of Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE), a NIST MEP network affiliate, in the past and once again contacted NVIE for assistance.
 
NVIE conducted two Kaizen events to change the layout and facilitated a Value Stream Map (VSM) process to improve the paperwork flow. Working with NVIE, WMS was awarded a state Career Enhancement Program (CEP) grant to help support the improvement projects. The first Kaizen event successfully changed the room layout, but the real benefits came when the paperwork process was improved. The information flow was mapped to identify who was to complete specific tasks, approval timelines were established, and communication methods were defined. The assistance provided by NVIE resulted in improved processes and freed up time for the EPROM administrator to complete inspections internally without borrowing other department employees.

Estimated savings of $50,000.
Reduced process time from 5 days to less than 1 day.
Provided 50 percent more time for EPROM administrator to complete inspections.