Definition
Ensure that staff receive the required operational guidance, spare parts, tools and equipment at the required time and place.
In detail
Point of Use (POU) is the principle of ensuring employees get the required work instructions, parts, tools, and equipment at the time and place they are needed, emphasizing the immediate availability of materials and information. POU is a management philosophy (line-side inventory is one of its aliases, referring to specific inventory placed according to this philosophy), aimed at reducing the Muda of searching and waiting. It typically outputs a Point-of-Use layout plan, such as tool shadow boards and material racks, improving work efficiency.
Example in practice
An assembly line hung commonly used tools above workstations and placed materials at the line side according to usage. Employees could access them without leaving their workstations. Through POU improvement, assembly time shortened and motion waste was reduced.