Mizusumashi

Mizusumashi” means “water strider” in Japanese — Mizisumashi is a material handler or internal logistics operator who moves swiftly and efficiently through a production area, delivering components and collecting finished goods.

Using a Logistics Train as the primary tool, the Mizusumashi ensures timely delivery of components and withdrawal of finished goods to and from designated areas. The Mizusumashi operates in a “Metro Line” mode, following a fixed route and arriving at each workstation precisely on schedule—typically every 20 minutes, the most common cycle. This predictable timing enhances flow reliability while being cost-effective and easy to manage. 

With high productivity and adherence to Standard Work, the Mizusumashi not only handles material delivery and pickup but also facilitates the movement of information on the shop floor, such as managing Kanban cards and Junjo (sequence) instructions, ensuring seamless coordination between logistics and production.

We bring deep expertise in implementing Mizusumashi systems, optimizing internal logistics to reduce waste, improve material flow, and support Just-In-Time production, leading to a lean, efficient, and well-organized material flow system.