Nearby Glue Cleaning Sticks: Make the Cleanup Method Visible at the Work Area

Keep simple sticks beside the glue area so everyone can remove residue right where it appears.

Creator: Hunter Trim & Cabinets
Company: Hunter Trim & Cabinets
Wastes: Motion

Problem

Glue could collect in the work area because the simple cleanup tool was not kept at the point where the mess happened.

Solution

The team added sticks next to the glue area so operators can clean up glue right there during the work.

Lean principle

Put proven cleanup methods at the point of use so they are easy to repeat correctly.

What is a Nearby Glue Cleaning Sticks?

Nearby glue cleaning sticks are a point of use cleanup standard. A small supply of sticks is kept beside the area where glue is used or collects, so the expected cleanup method is visible and ready.

The improvement is not only adding a tool. It turns a local know-how into a shared method that any operator can copy without asking what to use.

When glue appears, the tool and the action are obvious. This helps the work area stay ready for the next task and reduces the chance that residue becomes a recurring defect source.

Why it works

This works because it makes the proven glue cleanup method visible, reusable, and hard to miss.

Knowledge reuse: the team does not rely on each person remembering or inventing a cleanup method because the sticks show the expected way to remove glue.
Added value: the work area is kept ready for production instead of allowing glue residue to interfere with the next job.
Mistake-proofing: placing the sticks where the glue appears makes delayed or forgotten cleanup less likely.

Evidence: In the transcript, the operator says, "I add some sticks so we can clean up all the glue right here."

How to create this idea

1
Find the glue spot
Identify the exact place where glue is applied, drips, or collects. Put the cleanup method at that location, not in a general supply area.
2
Choose the stick
Use a simple stick that can remove the glue without damaging the work surface. Keep the choice consistent so everyone uses the same method.
3
Make it visible
Place the sticks in a clear, nearby location beside the glue area. The placement should make their purpose obvious.
4
Set the trigger
Agree when to use the sticks, such as after glue application or before leaving the station. The goal is to clean glue while it is still easy to remove.
5
Refill the supply
Check the stick location during normal area checks. Refill it before it runs out so the standard remains usable.

Best used when

glue stations
recurring residue
manual benches
assembly work

Less useful when

no adhesive use
hazardous cleanup
special tooling required

Products and tools mentioned

Cleaning sticks: Kept beside the glue area to remove glue from the work area.
Glue: Material in the area that needed cleanup.

Nearby Glue Cleaning Sticks: Make the Cleanup Method Visible at the Work Area

What is a Nearby Glue Cleaning Sticks?

Why it works

How to create this idea

Best used when

Less useful when

Products and tools mentioned

Tags

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