Lean Thinking Tip #1: Handle Plywood Once

In the past some of the various strategies I’ve used for handling sheet goods in a small shop included cutting in half lengthwise and stacking on shelves, piling vertically against a wall, inserting in a “vertical file,” etc.  No matter, a stored sheet is a thief of time, a hog of space.  Now I schedule all the cuts and piece sizes before the plywood arrives.  When it comes off the truck it goes directly onto the tablesaw and is cut before the next sheet comes off the truck.  A roller stand is located between the truck bed and tablesaw to make this aspect of materials handling even easier.