Identify some of the changes that were implemented in the car
racing world to enable such a fast setup time (these include
product design, having replacements available where and when
needed, devoting human resources to the task, using automation,
etc.). How can some of these same ideas be applied to many
different setup tasks in companies. A powerful example of setup
time reduction is the process of changing tires. When we get a flat
tire, we have to change it, taking 10 minutes or more, and then we
drive to the tire store to fix or replace the flat. Usually the
process takes at least one hour. In a car race, however, all four
tires are changed in a matter of seconds (recall the Global Company
Profile in Chapter 10). Every lost second represents about 500
yards of distance in the race, so a fast setup time is critical for
success. Clearly, with enough investment and ingenuity, most setup
times can be reduced.