Engineering techniques for improving production management

There are many analysis and studies in the field of operations in which we have great experience.

Before tackling a new investment project, a new activity or the improvement of an already existing one, it is necessary to perform a technical - economic analysis to evaluate its feasibility, and eventually, the expected profitability.

The elaboration of lay-outs, considering the different alternatives and limited exclusively by the "true hard" boundary conditions, is paramount for the efficiency of the operations.

Work methods are tied to the lay-outs. Productivity may be improved by questioning them in themselves or according to previous analysis of the physical disposition of the lines or machines.

  Production programming

The programming of the production by the DBR method (Drum-Buffer-Rope) has proved to be very effective in lowering the stock in process and, fundamentally, in improving the average values and the dispersion of the lead times. In this way promised delivery times can be honored, thereby improving the confidence of the clients.

  Key performance indicators

We put great emphasis in the design of indicators. To measure and to compare, so much be against standards as against historical values, is essential to define future courses of action. We deeply believe in Lord Kelvin's expression "it is not possible to say anything of that which cannot be measured", and we are consistent with it.

But caution should be exerted when defining the indicators, since not all of them (actually few of them) are conducive to the goal of the company. And there are others that are simply ignored when, in fact, they should actually be strictly followed. If the indicators are not aligned with the goal of the company, following them may be misleading and even worse than not having them at all.

  Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED)

SMED is a collection of techniques to succeed in reducing the changeover times of dies and molds. In turn, smaller production lots can be efficiently programmed, without a significant loss of productive time and resources. It is then possible to change the way in which production is programmed, from “make to stock” to “make to order”, thereby significantly lowering the stock of final products.

Our contribution consists of the training and facilitation of participative groups providing them, in addition, with ideas and criteria extracted from our experience

  Training courses

• SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies)
• Key performance indicators