Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Lean manufacturing – results of selected implementation projects

2013, Journal of Intercultural Management

Abstract

Lean Manufacturing is a structured program whose objective is to maximize the effectiveness of the company. It is based on the practices and methods of KAIZEN / LEAN applied by the world’s best companies. The experiences from the Author led us to the conclusion that the Lean Manufacturing is based , among others, on the following concepts: - Total Productive Maintenance TPM - Single Minute Exchange Die SMED The Lean Manufacturing focuses on the systematic pursuit and elimination of waste and losses. The losses identified are analyzed, evaluated in adequate manner to the attribute processes. The result of the analysis determines where and how to intervene. In the paper has been presented the bases of Lean Manufacturing. The results of the implementation of Lean Manufacturing in different companies have been described. The main issues of Lean Manufacturing implementation have been characterized.

Key takeaways

  • In order to be able to put the ideas of lean manufacturing and management into practice, one must apply a number of methods in the enterprise, only to mention TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) or SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) chosen according to the company's individual characteristics.
  • Decreasing the time required for machinery changeover is the fundamental goal of the Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) method originally proposed in 1985 in a book entitled "A Revolution in Manufacturing.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a sequence of steps developed and applied by the author while implementing the Lean Manufacturing methodology.
  • The outcomes shown are average waste values measured in the course of the operations described as steps 2, 3 and 4 (compare Figure 1) of the Lean Manufacturing concept implementation.
  • Making organisational structures more flat owing to the Lean Management principles and improved information transfer between the management and employees exerts a positive influence on mutual communication.