The REDUCTION OF SETUP TIME BASED ON LEAN MANUFACTURING PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

The quest to optimize and reduce cost without interfering with the quality of the final product is, without a doubt, the greatest challenge facing businesses in today’s age, especially considering profitability in a highly competitive environment. The relentless search for continuous improvement must be the focus of organizations that intend to remain relevant in the market, regardless of their field of activity, since there will always be a part of the business that can be improved. This case study, carried out in a large auto parts industry, through quantitative, qualitative and descriptive field research based on a literature review, seeks to demonstrate how some techniques on the japanese Lean Manufacturing philosophy can positively impact a business. By applying these techniques, improvements can be seen in the setup times of a machine that previously took much longer to start, consequently reducing waste and adding more value to the final product. The results obtained, based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing, can be beneficial to the business, keeping it competitive.