Reducing 6 of the 7 wastes of lean manufacturing

Posted on February 17, 2026 - aerospace, latest news

On Pancake Day, many of us find ourselves organising our kitchen cupboards, a tradition rooted in reducing waste during Lent. At Evolito, the lean manufacturing approach is enabling us to prepare for rapid scale-up.
Behind every engine built at Evolito is a tightly controlled manufacturing environment. Central to this is our Modular Lift system, an automated, SAP-integrated storage and retrieval solution designed to support waste manufacturing.

Efficient Footprint. Scalable Production.

Evolito’s larder operates two Modular Lifts that together deliver 138m² of storage capacity within just 22.2m² of floor space. This high-density vertical configuration maximises our operational footprint, enabling more of the facility to be dedicated to assembly, testing and inspection activities.

Not only are the lift systems space efficient, they stop over-processing by minimising the manual processing time. This helps us scale production without expanding footprint, supporting faster throughput, stable lead times, and reliable delivery.

Minimising rework, transportation, motion and waiting time

Accurate stock retrieval is essential to maintaining Evolito’s right-first-time build philosophy, ensuring components arrive at the build line consistently correct, ready for assembly. The Modular Lift system contributes to our waste reduction in several ways:

  • Automated picking: defect reduction is achieved through SAP-generated picks from BOM (bill of materials) data.

  • Laser-guided picking: motion waste is eliminated as parts are identified by laser guides to ensure quick and accurate retrieval of components.

  • Automated shelf selection: transportation waste is removed as the correct shelf is automatically presented to the picker.

  • Right parts, right time: in complex builds like motor controls, with many small parts, contamination and waiting time is reduced as our operators are given just the components they need.

Stock Management and Managing Obsolescence

Effective stock control is also central to Evolito’s approach to waste reduction and obsolescence management.

First In First Out (FIFO) rotation, supported by batch and serial number control, helps ensure components are used in the correct order and remain within specification throughout storage.

This structured approach supports material availability, cost stability and lifecycle management across our propulsion programmes.

A Foundation for efficient, scalable production organisation

While Pancake Day offers a light-hearted reminder of the value of eliminating waste, the underlying message is far more important: waste management is a critical enabler.

And while the team enjoys a well-earned pancake or two today, our commitment to an efficient, well-governed manufacturing facility remains central to how we build electric engines with confidence and control.