Identification and elimination of production inefficiencies and wastes in SMEs: An industrial production system analysis case study
2018 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
On their journey to improve manufacturing processes by implementing Lean and Agile production principles, many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), world- and industry-wide, lose grip after initial efforts, or even abandon their plans later because of many reasons. To support those and similar SMEs and to make their Lean and Agile visions become reality, this thesis report describes the case of a small traditional German wholesale firm in the initial stage of analysing and improving processes, as well as workshop structures according to contemporary literature and manufacturing improvement theories. The results of this report give the management and decision makers of this or similar organisations an idea and valuable recommendations, of how to gain and maintain the advantages of a lean and agile production. Overall it was found that SMEs such as the analysed organisation, need to vigorously implement changes from an overarching systematic level to the very detail of shop floor activities, while equally considering cultural as well as human, technological, and organisational aspects, to be successful.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2018. , p. 75
Keywords [en]
General Plant Assessment, Process Mapping, Work Sampling, Lean Production, Agile Production, World-Class Manufacturing, Germany, Sweden
National Category
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-41424ISRN: JU-JTH-PRS-2-20180044OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-41424DiVA, id: diva2:1247691
External cooperation
N/A (Undisclosed)
Subject / course
JTH, Production Systems
Supervisors
Examiners
2018-09-142018-09-122025-10-13Bibliographically approved