Process improvement: performance analysis of the setup time reduction-SMED in the automobile industry

Cakmakci M.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, vol.41, no.1-2, pp.168-179, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 41 Issue: 1-2
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s00170-008-1434-4
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.168-179
  • Keywords: Single minute exchange of dies (SMED), Process improvement, Process capability analysis (PCA), Process capability index, Equipment design, TOTAL PRODUCTIVE MAINTENANCE, PROCESS CAPABILITY, CHANGEOVER, IMPLEMENTATION, MANUFACTURE, COMPANY, DESIGN, TPM
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Flexibility and responsiveness to customer demands are very important for success. Generally additional time is needed for setup caused by poor design of equipment. At this point the terms continuous process improvement and SMED (single minute exchange of dies) as an approach of lean manufacturing come into play. A lean manufacturing system is part of corporate culture, like tools and approaches. In this research work, the process capability analysis technique is implemented by using MINITAB14 software to investigate the relation between SMED methodology and equipment design. The index C(pk) has been used in this application study to provide a quantitative measurement of the equipment design by applying the SMED methodology in automobile manufacturing. The results of this research study indicated that SMED in other words "quick changeover" is still a suitable method not only for manufacturing improvement but also for equipment/die design development.