Standardized Work - The Power of Consistency

One of the most important tools of lean manufacturing is standardized work. When starting a 5S program, the cleaning, organizing, and developing of sustainable practices is done so the elements of work can be standardized. In lean product development deployments, by developing and releasing design guidelines, we are in effect implementing standardized work for engineers.

The principles of lean and flow production do not work well when everyone is allowed to choose the method or sequence in which to do the job; quality suffers, and productivity drops. This reduces throughput and the carefully developed production system develops unanticipated bottlenecks.

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Standardized Work: The Principles

Standardized Work - The Power of Consistency

Standardized work is a detailed, documented and visual system by which associates develop and follow a series of predefined process steps. It should be used whenever the work requires completing a series of tasks. Production workers, shipping departments, and warehousing teams all can benefit from implementing standardized work.

The detailed process steps which we call standardized work represent the current best practices for workers to follow in the completion of their jobs. They are designed to minimize process variation introduced by the worker and to eliminate unnecessary motion. This reduces waste, eases problem solving and enhances productivity within a particular job or set of jobs.

Without standardized work, continuous improvement activities are not manageable because processes which are in a constant state of change cannot be improved. Detailed understanding of the steps needed to be taken to complete tasks is necessary to eliminate root causes and permanently resolve issues. When workers utilize various methods to complete their work, it is not possible to develop this understanding. Therefore, standardized work provides the baseline required for continuous improvement.

Like everything in lean manufacturing, standardized work is focused on what workers need to do to satisfy the customer. Unlike the routers developed by engineering, which focus on the part and how it is processed, standardized work focuses on the workers and what steps they must take to produce the part. Maintenance and improvement of the standardized work documentation is the responsibility of the work teams.

With standardized work implemented, production workers, supervisors, and engineers no longer have to work from memory. The process documentation provides a baseline, a standard which is referenced whenever someone new is trained on the job. The standard provides consistent training results even if different managers or operators are used to train new workers.

The same principles apply even when new operators are not being trained to do the work. Over time, employees will develop shortcuts to the process, sometimes developing bad habits. But with the baseline of standardized work, it becomes straightforward and easy to complete regular process audits, following up by reinstructing workers on the proper and desired techniques or perhaps institutionalizing the improvement workers have developed.

Standardized Work: The Elements

1. Takt Time - The Demand Rate of Production.

"Takt" is a German word which refers to the pace or drumbeat of a musical composition. Imagine the chaos if each member of a band were to play the music at their own pace. The power of the music would never be realized. Similarly, when production operations do not work at the same pace, chaos ensues.

Takt time provides definition to the relationship between work time available and the customer requirements, and enables us to be aware of the time available to complete the job.
It is common to confuse takt time with cycle time, which is the actual elapsed time required to complete a task. However, they are distinctly different concepts, and are not related.

Takt time is impacted only by customer demand and the amount of time available for production. When demand rises, takt time drops. When available production time increases, takt time increases as well.

2. Cycle Time - The Production Rate

Cycle time tells us how often we can produce the product with current resources and staffing. This isn't the same as capacity or even detailed process analysis, but an accurate representation of how the line is currently set up to run.

Cycle time calculations take into account the entire production quantities. When multiple lines are producing the same product, then the composite cycle time is less than the actual elapsed time of any individual line. The cycle time is the expected or historically average total production time per unit produced.

On an assembly line or in a workcell with multiple operators, each operator will have a time associated with completing the work he is doing. However, when referring to the cycle time of the line, we are referencing the longest of these individual cycles. To reduce the cycle time of the line, we won't have to revamp the entire line, only the operation which is sets the pace.

3. Work Sequence - The Sequence of Tasks Followed to Complete the Job.

There is a best method and sequence of process steps to produce any product. Even when the most efficient method is yet to be found, we know it exists and that we can find it. This striving towards perfection is the foundation of lean thinking.

Focusing on work sequences is not unique to lean manufacturing. It has been a key part of manufacturing from the early days of the industrial revolution, and is essential to the development and management of all mass production plants. But lean thinking approaches are different in several ways.
Unlike traditional approaches, the work sequences are focused on the production workers, not the parts. They instruct the operator on exactly what he is to do next, not just which process is to be applied next. Work sequences are developed by those doing the work. Although it is typical for management or engineering to actually document the process steps, they are developed by the workers. Engineering, quality, and other functional groups are consulted to ensure the steps will yield the desired results, but the driving force is the production worker. Standardized work utilizes visual controls. The sequences are defined primarily by visual images. When done properly, the process should be able to be followed even by someone who does not speak the language well. Standardized work sequences are audited. Management communicates commitment and belief in the process by regularly checking to ensure it is being followed.
Standardized Work: The Tools

1. Standardized Work Analysis Sheet - Cell Layout

Organization of the workcell is an important part of the design of a process. When a cell or assembly line starts to degrade or be neglected, one of the initial symptoms is equipment and tools that are not being returned to their proper locations. The cell layout provides the baseline, or standard, for the cell. The team uses it as a reference when organizing or cleaning the work cell. Process audits include checking to ensure that the cell layout is being maintained.

When completing cell layouts, it is important to show everything in the workcell in their proper locations. This includes work tables, staging tables, storage and part racks, equipment locations, pallet locations and tool boxes. When the workcell has a containment area, it should also be shown on the layout.

2. Time Observation

Nearly a century ago, Fredrick Taylor started the practice of time observation when he began using the scientific method to establish time standards in manufacturing. In lean manufacturing, we focus more on system level performance than individual process efficiencies. But the understanding of work elements and the time required to complete them are an important part of lean manufacturing.

Time balancing processes so that cycle times closely match takt times is essential to eliminating wasted resources. All workers in a cell must have equal or nearly equal amounts of work, or productivity of the line will suffer. When the cycle time of a workcell exceeds the takt time for the cell, then late shipments, shortages, or excessive overtime will result. If the cycle time of the workcell is less than takt time, either overproduction or efficiency reduction will result. Without detailed knowledge of cycle times and set-up or change over times, such process balancing is not possible. Time observation is the tool that provides the detailed knowledge.

While time observation approaches are similar in lean and traditional manufacturing environments, there are significant differences.
Lean manufacturing time observations are conducted to optimize and balance the work within the cell and to aid in the effort to reduce overall lead time - traditional manufacturing uses them to establish time standards. While it is true that lean manufacturing systems sometimes temporarily establish time standards, the overall continuous improvement activities will quickly render such standards obsolete. Lean systems use production workers to conduct the time observations. They aren't conducted by supervisors, manufacturing engineers, industrial engineers, or others who come into the workplace to judge or dictate how team members perform their jobs. In lean systems, we study the process, never the worker doing the job.
3. Standardized Work Combination Sheet

The standardized work combination sheet (SWCS) brings many of the lean tools together. It is a graphical representation of the process for visual control, emphasizing the work sequences of the operation. The SWCS brings together all elements of the process, including the time element, and shows the actual sequence of completing the work. It shows the manual work, the automatic or machine work, the walking or non-value added time, and the takt time. It is distinctly different from the work instructions or elements, which define the process methodology. Typically, hand work is denoted by a solid line, machine time by a dotted or dashed line, walk and other non-value added time by a wavy or red line. Takt time is denoted by a vertical, solid line on the right side of the sheet.

In lean operations, we often find cycle clocks which display the elapsed time of the current cycle. Standardized Work Combination Sheets work with these cycle clocks to provide an excellent visual control mechanism. A glance at the SWCS can tell a worker where they should be in the work cycle and allow for proper pacing to stay on schedule. They provide a management tool which easily facilitates auditing of the process. Finally, they are a great aid to workers, especially when operations run close to takt time.

4. Operator / Machine Balance Charts

Many work cells and nearly all assembly lines require multiple operations and workers to do a variety of tasks or work sequences to actually produce products. The cycle time of each of these operations can be easily determined using the time observation methods discussed above.

The operator / machine balance chart is used to quickly compare the work load on the resources of the work cell to each other and to takt time. Like the other standardized work tools, it is a visual representation of the process. The operator balance chart provides a picture of the time required to conduct every operation in the work cell. Balance charts show operations which require more or less time than is available, and also show the relative loading of each operation. To be in balance, the operator / machine balance chart needs to provide nearly equal workload to each operator, and to develop a cycle time which closely matches the cell takt time.

A balance chart is a bar chart which shows the time required for each operation in the cell. The value of each bar is the time required for that particular operation. To be effective, the balance chart must also show takt time, which is represented by a horizontal line on the chart. Any deviation of the operation bars to the takt time line is waste; an opportunity for improvement using lean manufacturing methodologies.

You can download templates of these tools from my website at Process Coaching Incorporated.

Standardized Work: The Conclusion

Standardized work is a foundational element of lean manufacturing methodologies. Without it, the gains made from organizing work cells, creating flow production, and starting continuous improvement teams will only be temporary.

Implementing standardized work is never easy. The detail requirements and information have to be uncovered, revealing questions and new concerns. Time observation is time consuming, and often an unpopular activity on the plant floor. Standardized work activities are never finished. Lean manufacturing strives, but never achieves perfection, and with every new step towards perfection, the standardized work changes.

But the hard work and the constant striving to improve are worthwhile. Improved quality, productivity, safety and customer satisfaction is the reward.

Standardized Work - The Power of Consistency

New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email

If you have a brand new computer, or are thinking about buying one in the near future, one of the things that you will need to consider is how to transfer your emails from the old system to the new system.

At least once a week in my job as a help desk analyst, I am helping a customer set up Outlook Express or Outlook (there are other email clients that are used, but these two are the most popular) on their new computer. Once we are finished with the setup and they open it up to the Inbox the question is asked "where are my old emails?" The simple answer; "on your old computer". Then of course the follow up question is; "how do I get them to the new computer?"

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Easy or Hard

New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email

The easiest way to do this is to back them up to an external hard drive or a compact disc before you make the switch to the new computer and then copy them over to the new computer in the exact same directory. The harder way is in the case of a crashed computer or the inability to access the files normally. I cover a bit of that in another article called 'Got Backups?' which you can find at my website.

Outlook Express

With Outlook Express your emails/email folders are stored on your hard drive in a directory that is buried way down deep in the Operating System. Instead of me giving you the full path to get there, it's easiest if you have Outlook Express open, click on Tools then Options.

Copy/Paste

Once you are here, click on the Maintenance tab and then click on the Store Folder button. This will pop another window with the location of your emails. Using your mouse, highlight the path and then right click and copy it.

You will then click on the Start button, then click Run, and then right click in the Open box and Paste the path. Click Ok.

This will open another window with your email files. Unless you have added other folders to your Outlook Express, the default folders will be here with a .dbx extension (Folders, Inbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, and Drafts).

Backup

If you are going to write these files to a CD, you can burn them at this time by using your favorite burning software (providing that you have a CD burner installed in your computer).

To copy them to an external hard drive, you must now connect that device to your computer, create a folder on that drive (I usually call it Email Backups), copy the files from the old computer then paste the files into the Email Backups folder.

Import

Once you have the files copied to the CD or external drive, then you will go to the new installation of Outlook Express and import the messages. It would be nice if you could just copy them to the new OE and be done, but Microsoft doesn't like you to do it that way.

Open up OE and then click on File, Import, Messages. This will open a new window called Outlook Express Import. Choose Microsoft Outlook Express 6 then click Next. Click in the circle that says 'Import mail from an OE6 store directory'. Click OK. Then click 'Browse' and navigate to and select the directory you have saved them to. Click OK. The next window will give you a list of all of the email folders you have previously saved. Keep 'All folders' selected and click Next.

This will begin the process of importing all of your 'old' emails into your 'new' Outlook Express. Once it has finished you will have all of your old emails back! Cool, huh?

Outlook

The procedure to save and then import your emails in Outlook is similar, but different.

To start with, Outlook uses a file extension called pst, or Personal Folder File. Don't ask me why it's called that. Call Bill Gates and ask him.

Export

You will start on the old computer and with Outlook open, click on File, then 'Import and Export'. This opens the Import and Export Wizard. Choose 'Export to a file' then click Next. Choose 'Personal Folder File' here and then click Next. In the Export Personal Folders dialogue box you have your choice of what you want to do. The easiest is to keep the default choice of just the inbox, but if you want your sent items and all the other folders, choose the top item (Personal Folders) and then choose the 'Include subfolders' option and then click Next.

The next window will have a default location listed
(usually C:Documents and Settings'your computer name'Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookbackup.pst). I would suggest following the same procedure as for OE (see above). Then click 'Finish' and let it do it's thing.
Once you have your pst files backed up, move to the new computer and the import process will again be similar to OE.

Connect your external hard drive to your computer or insert the CD into the drive.

Import

Open Outlook, click on File, then Import and Export. In the Import and Export Wizard, this time choose 'Import from another program or file' then click Next. In the 'Import a File' window, scroll down and select Personal Folder File (.pst) and then click Next.

In the 'Import Personal Folders' window, click the Browse button and navigate out to the location of your backed up pst file, choose it and then click Next. Click 'Finish' and it will import all of your messages.

New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email

Christmas Gift Ideas For 12 Year Old Boys

Are you on the hunt for those Christmas gifts that will really hit the spot for all your family and friends? It can be a challenge to come up with ideas and get the right presents for your loved ones. But when you nail it and get that perfect present it's great to see the smiling faces. If you are looking for a few Christmas gift ideas for 12 year old boys then this article may be able to help you out. It will describe 3 toys that should really suit a boy of around 12 years of age.

The first toy that is sure to appeal to a 12 year old boy is the Razor drifter. This item was listed as a hot toy for Christmas 2010. I'm sure about that but it looks like a lot of fun anyhow. It's basically a go kart with slick tires so that the driver can slide the kart about.

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If you have ever gone to those indoor go kart tracks you will understand the fun that can be had on a machine like this. The standard go karts use a two stroke engine to power them. However the Razor Drifter uses and electric motor so it is easier to maintain and use. You simply recharge the battery on the motor and it's ready top go again.

Christmas Gift Ideas For 12 Year Old Boys

There have been some concerns over the wear of the tires on the drifter and you would obviously need a flat and smooth surface to run the drifter on. If you have such a venue then you can have some great fun sliding your kart around obstacles or round a track. Better still get a buddy with another drifter and have races.

Another item that could definitely be described as a boys toy is the NERF gun. Most people are aware of what a NERF Gun is and have probably been at the wrong end of one from time to time. Nerf guns fire soft plastic darts at a good velocity. They look like real guns and are great for having battles with your buddies.

Boys love to have NERF wars in the back yard and since the darts are quite soft it isn't too sore when you get hit by one. The latest NERF gun is the Stampede ECS gun which is the first assault style gun that has an automatic firing mode.

The third toy that is bound to be a hit with boys around the age of 12 is the Air Hogs Pocket Copter. It's a remote controlled helicopter and very cheap for such a machine. As the name suggests, it is a pocket sized RC helicopter which might also explain why it is cheap.

Boys love remote controlled devices and this is a neat little toy that they will love to fly around. Due to the size of this toy, it is probably better used indoors than outside but you can use it anywhere really. The pocket copter is also supposed to be a top toy for Christmas 2010.

Christmas Gift Ideas For 12 Year Old Boys

The Truth about Automatic Sweepstakes Entry Services

If you read about automatic sweepstakes entry services online, you will hear many rumors. Most of these are honest misunderstandings written by people who don't know how automatic entry systems work. Here are some of the most common myths about automatic sweepstakes entry services, and our response to them.

1. Most Contests Prohibit Automatic Entry Services from Participating

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There is a common misconception that most sweepstakes prohibit entries from automatic services and that people who use a sweepstakes service will be disqualified from every sweep they enter.

The Truth about Automatic Sweepstakes Entry Services

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Legitimate entry services are dedicated to selecting only sweepstakes where their members have a legitimate chance of winning. To ensure this, they scour the rules of each individual contest and giveaway to ensure that automatic sweepstakes entry services are not prohibited.

Despite being very selective and rejecting any sweep where automatic entry is prohibited, there are still hundreds upon hundreds of contests available.

Legitimate sweepstake entry services do not have any problems finding sweepstakes with fantastic prizes for its members to enter, despite respecting the contest rules and the wishes of any sweepstakes sponsor who prefers that their members not enter.

2. People Don't Really Win through Automated Sweepstakes Entry Services

The people on the Winner's Lists would strongly disagree!

Legitimate sweepstakes entry programs only list people who have won through their service on their Winner's List.

Furthermore, a Winner's List is only a small sampling of the members who have won through an automatic sweepstakes entry service. Such services rely on their members to tell them when they have won a prize. Anyone who has won through a service but wants their prizes to remain private is not included on the Winner's List.

3. You Can't Tell What You're Being Entered Into with Automatic Contest Services

A good sweepstakes entry service will provide each of its members with a personalized listing of sweepstakes that have been entered for them. A new sweepstake is only added to that list when they receive a confirmation or "thank you" page for that specific entry, so members can be sure that their individual entry was really accepted.

The sweepstakes listing should be available for members at all times, and is updated at least twice a day.

This gives you a solid overview of the entries that you receive, and allows you to enter additional sweepstakes on your own without fear of duplicating entries.

4. Contest Sponsors Don't Like Automatic Sweepstakes Entry Services

The number of sweepstakes sponsors that contact entry services directly to ask them to include their contests in their sweepstakes selections shows that this just isn't true!

Sweepstakes sponsors receive a number of benefits from inclusion in an automated entry service. Most companies run promotions to increase their brand awareness and draw new people to their website, and entry services allow them to reach a broader audience at no additional cost.

They have the chance to contact every one of the service's customers through confirmation emails, which often include marketing information, and they will also benefit from links to their contest pages, which members can follow for more information about the product.

People are more likely to buy from a sponsor that hosts a sweepstake because they have a positive feeling toward the company, and this remains true for people who are entered through automatic services as well.

Savvy marketers realize that automatic entry helps the sweepstakes sponsors as much as it helps the entrants - a true win-win situation for everyone!

And if a contest sponsor decides that automatic sweepstakes entries will not help their marketing plan, they can simply put a line in their rules prohibiting them, and legitimate entry services will not enter the contest.

5. You'll Get Buried in Spam if you Join an Automatic Sweepstakes Entry Service

A good automatic entry service takes great pains to select only sweepstakes from reliable companies that will not send an unreasonable amount of marketing information to the entrant. While members will receive some promotional information, companies that will sell your name and address or pass on your personal information to marketing partners will not be selected.

It's always a good idea to set up a separate email address for its automatic entries, which makes it easy to find win notifications. If you are receiving emails or newsletters that you do not wish to read at that email address, simply opt out of the marketing list.

Last but not least, remember that not all automated sweepstakes entry services are the same. Some companies provide clearly higher levels of service, including hand-picked sweepstakes that are individually programmed for accurate entry, contests that are filtered so that only customers who are eligible to win based on factors like age, gender, and state of residence are entered, and the ability to track entries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With automatic sweepstakes entry services, you can be sure of receiving reliable entry into the best contests on the internet. See how easy it can be to win cool cash, win a dream vacation, or any of the hundreds of other online sweepstakes and contests.

The Truth about Automatic Sweepstakes Entry Services

iBuzz Pro - Using Automatic Recruiter to Boost Your Sales and Make Your Business Grow

If you have read the iBuzz Pro reviews, you are probably aware of the benefits of keeping up with the age of technology. There is a computer application for practically every aspect of conducting business, and some, like iBuzz Pro, that serve multiple purposes. The results of this are found in the iBuzz Pro reviews and other information users have posted touting its successes.

One of the most common problems business owners face today is increasing their customer base over a vastly populated global market. Times have changed and people are adopting new technologies in order to keep up. iBuzz Pro is a perfect example of how it has evolved. As the iBuzz Pro reviews have shown, business owners are slowly steering away from some of the more traditional methods of recruiting a customer base such as sending mailings and conducting cold calls. While these methods have certainly worked in the past, a more global market now means a more ambitious approach, one that iBuzz Pro Automatic Recruiter definitely provides.

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This software has been on the market since 2006, and during the last two years has received favorable reviews among business owners of all types. Now it is easier than ever to recruit a wide range of customers while saving time and money. For a one time fee of 0.00, you can purchase the application. Once it is set up to meet your specifications, you can begin using it's voice broadcasting capabilities to acquire your customer base. Simply record your own message, or choose from those already pre-recorded for you. This is what your potential customers will hear upon answering their phones, and will serve as the basis of your campaign. Once your message is set up, simply enter your contacts the software is to call. You even have the ability to import contacts from other lists, which makes expanding your list quick and easy.

iBuzz Pro - Using Automatic Recruiter to Boost Your Sales and Make Your Business Grow

Now you can let the software work for you. Once it is set up, you will be able to make multiple calls with just the click of the mouse. The call rates are very low, and you will not be charged for calls that do not connect. Once your new leads are processed, they can be conveniently E-Mailed to you. This allows you to keep up with those who are interested in your business in a systematic way.

As also stated in various iBuzz Pro reviews and testimonials, the software is easy to learn and has been configured with every type of business in mind. Once you are somewhat familiar with the interface, you can begin taking advantage of the free training you receive with your investment. Because it is becoming so widely used, you can also tap into the comprehensive knowledge base and various other resources that have been created by and for entrepreneurs such as yourself.

The developers of iBuzz Pro Automatic Recruiter understand the need for such a powerful tool that enables users to remain competitive in such a fast-paced society. You have the power to decide how well your business will succeed, so read the iBuzz Pro reviews, check out what it has to offer and decide if it's right for you.

iBuzz Pro - Using Automatic Recruiter to Boost Your Sales and Make Your Business Grow

Automatic Cat Litter Box - New Litter Robot Odor Control Features

Automatic and self cleaning cat litter boxes are becoming increasingly popular. The Litter Maid is a well known brand that has mixed reviews. There is also the Cat Genie that washes the litter. The Litter-Robot II has a unique design that reliably sifts litter via a rotating globe. After a thorough evaluation of features and trade-offs, we became convinced the Litter-Robot II is the best auto cat litter box available.

We purchased our first Litter-Robot II in June of 2007. Recently, we upgraded to the new version that has the odor control feature. This article compares the features of three top automatic cat litter box brands and discusses our experience with the new Litter Robot II odor control feature.

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The Litter Maid uses a rake to comb through the litter. The rake separates clumps from litter and deposits them into a special receptacle. Receptacle refills must be purchased separately. They are not very large and cost a lot. They are sold 12 in a box for about .99. For just one cat, they need to be changed every 5 days. That adds up to 0.00 per year. Over a typical 15 year cat life span, the cost is 00. Many users have reported problems with the Litter Maid rake getting clogged. It needs to be cleaned often. The Litter Maid reduces the effort of scooping, but requires maintenance of the rake and costs 00 over the life of one cat for special receptacles.

Automatic Cat Litter Box - New Litter Robot Odor Control Features

The Cat Genie is an interesting concept. It uses special cat litter that is washable. The unit connects to plumbing in your home. After the cat completes his business, water enters the litter area, the litter is washed and solid waste is pushed through a grinder before exiting the unit to the sewer. The cat gets his own toilet, literally. Now for the down side. Just like a toilet, the Cat Genie's grinding mechanism can clog. This is very disgusting to clean out. Another down side is the special litter and sani solution for washing the litter.

The Litter-Robot II has an ingenious design. A removable globe sits atop a base having a very large removable drawer. Inside the globe is a sturdy, heavy duty filter that sifts litter from waste as the globe rotates. A trap door rotates around until it reaches the bottom. The waste reliably falls through the trap door to the waste drawer below, that is lined with any type of plastic bag. A cat sensor detects the presence of the cat. There is a timer that does not start the globe rotating until 7 minutes after the cat is gone. This also allows the clumps to solidify, enabling extremely reliable performance. The cat sensor also detects if the cat comes back while the globe is rotating. The globe stops for 15 seconds.

There are only a few negative things that can be said about the Litter-Robot. One is that the Litter-Robot II is not recommended for tiny kittens or cats less than five pounds. Tiny kittens and very small cats may not set off the cat sensor and could get hurt by the trap door. Second, it is not recommended for diabetic cats since urine clumps may be too large. Third, it is not recommended for cats larger than 15 lbs, although users having cats up to 20 lbs have reported successful Litter-Robot II adoption.

Other Litter-Robot benefits: The first is the globe itself. The shape of the globe is ideal for minimizing the amount of litter the cat can kick out. The opening is just large enough for the cat to enter. The globe is lined with a thick rubber material and the screen is coated with the same material. The rubber material prevents and reduces odor absorption by the globe.

The second benefit is easy cleaning. The globe easily lifts off the base. We have found it rarely needs to be cleaned. The screen has never clogged. Once every few months we have found it necessary to empty the remaining litter and clean the globe. Since the globe has no electronics, this is easily done with a hose or in the bathtub. You could take it to a self car wash if you live in an apartment. Similarly, the drawer is easily cleaned by a hose or in a laundry tub.

The third benefit is the Litter-Robot's sturdy construction. It is very solidly built and intended to last a long time. At 9, it may seem like it costs a lot, but if you consider that you are buying an appliance rather than a throw-away consumer product, the price is very reasonable. It's about the same cost as a dishwasher or washing machine and meant to last as long. The warranty is 18 months, 50% longer than standard 1 year appliance warranties.

The odor control features are two-fold. First there is a soft breathable ring that fills the space between the globe and the base. This traps odor inside without allowing odor to build up. Then there is a replaceable carbon filter at the front of the drawer. The drawer step has odor breathing holes to prevent odor build-up. Now the odor must travel through the carbon filter to exit the holes. The odors are effectively neutralized before exiting. The manufacturer recommends replacing carbon filters every 6-8 weeks, or when necessary. We have not changed ours in five months and still do not feel it needs to be changed.

The first Litter-Robot II we owned did not have odor control; odor was not too bad. However, we noticed a significant difference once we upgraded our Litter-Robot. Now we find the odor is not noticeable unless the cat had just used the box, even when standing next to it.

We give the Litter-Robot II a five star ***** review. In our opinion, it is the best self-cleaning cat litter box available.

Automatic Cat Litter Box - New Litter Robot Odor Control Features

Automatic Responder - Preloaded For You

An automatic responder is the most powerful tool any serious Network Marketer could have! Ever successful Internet Marketer knows the secret to success is found in building a huge list of leads. These leads are captured using a capture page and then sent to an autoresponder; just what is an autoresponder? Be sure you read the last sentence of this article before you leave.

An automatic responder is a piece of software that collects a persons information and sends emails to this contact, and many others, automatically. In most cases, the owner of the automatic responder is responsible for writing the messages. Professional Internet marketers use autoresponders because leads have to opt-in to the system, which means they are agreeing to receive these emails. This helps alleviate the spam issue because people do hate spam. A subscriber is given the easy option of opting out if they so desire.

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These messages are loaded into the autoresponder and are sent out at intervals the sender chooses. The great thing about this is that messages can be sent any time of the day or night whether the sender is present or not. Complete courses on just about any subject matter could be sent at prescribed intervals which allows the recipient time to digest one before receiving the next.

Automatic Responder - Preloaded For You

An automatic responder has three main purposes:

1- It allows the sender to build a long-term relationship with the customer and hopefully gain trust. Most people will need to see a product at least seven times before they make a decision to buy.

2- It allows the sender to market products and services to the recipient for years, or as long as the customer continues to receive the messages. The only cost to the marketer is the initial cost of capturing the lead. This makes the email auto responder system so powerful because it becomes a free method of advertising. Imagine sending the same amount of information through letters, post cards, or other traditional methods.

3- An autoresponder series of messages can be used to teach or train recipients if that is the goal. It is also a great way to have literally thousands of messages sent out a one time. They can also be set to respond to messages automatically without having to stop and respond to each question that is asked.

Autoresponder scripts can take quite a while to create. The writer must start with the end in mind and should not come across as being pushy. People do not like a sales person but they do respect a consultant. This is why it is a good idea to start the messages for the first few days with the goal of creating a relationship. Facts tell and stories sell, so it is a great idea to tell people stories. People like to hear stories about the writer and funny stories are even better.

Along with telling stories, creating a character of yourself helps people remember you. Daegan Smith created the character of - "King of Never Calling A Single Lead" - and he is one of the most successful Internet Marketers online! Daegan has so many good stories in his emails and he is an educator, encourager, and entertainer all in one. I look forward to receiving his emails and I will remain on his list for years to come.

Before you sign up for an automatic responder system you need to know that you can find one with one whole year of messages written for you. This is priceless!

Automatic Responder - Preloaded For You