Implementation of SMED in LEAN Enviroment

Abstract

This article addresses the Single Minute Exchange of Die methodology (SMED), which aims at the decrease in machine’s changeover time of the factory to achieve the shorten of production lead time. The reduction of lead time production allows more flexibility, quality, and operational productivity. For this purpose, a case study methodology was selected in components automotive factory. The evolution of operational results caused by this tool implementation were monitored. Thus, the goal of this work is to analyze whether the implementation of this methodology decreases machine’s changeover time and shorten production lead time. The results allow us to conclude that the implementation of SMED contributes to significant improvements in the sector under analysis: it reduces the set-up time, the stock of pieces, the number of machines used and the number of operators needed, allowing with these reductions, significant productivity gains.