Achieving Lean Changeover

Book excerpt: Defined as the total process of converting a line or process from one product to another, changeover will not only help your organization improve quality and flexibility, but it will save thousands and sometimes even tens of thousands of dollars per hour. Achieving Lean Changeover: Putting SMED to Work is about the practical implementation of the single minute exchange of die (SMED) philosophy developed by Shigeo Shingo at Toyota. Although the book is principally about changeover of manufacturing, packaging, and assembly processes, the general concepts and examples are also applicable in lighter industries that require turnover of processes including airlines, hospitals, operating rooms, and food service. Filled with practical examples, the book shares proven methods that can help you convert changeover downtime to productive uptime. It explains why reducing changeover time is important financially and provides a structured methodology to help you identify and implement improvement opportunities. The author addresses both the machinery issues with changeover/ SMED and the associated operational issues such as costs, waiting times, material movement, documentation, and product/component design. He also devotes a chapter to discussing, in detail, how to calculate the cost of changeover downtime, an area that remains a mystery to many. Taking a holistic approach to changeover, the text includes a chapter devoted to organizing changeover improvements, keeping them on track, and developing and implementing a formal changeover reduction program. Presenting time-tested methods and practical examples from a variety of industries, it offers you the opportunity to reduce changeover time and cost and provide your organization with the flexibility needed to better satisfy your customers in three important dimensions: product variety, responsiveness, and price.