SMED tool

Context

Can SMED, one of the classic tools in the Lean Manufacturing arsenal, still be burningly relevant? Actually, that is a rhetorical question: today, speed, reliability, and custom-made production are an absolute must to be counted among the industry's elite. Consequently, 'flexibility' and 'responsiveness to customer demand' become all the more important in today's market dynamics. The SMED tool supports your organisation to autonomously keep reducing setup times and securing the new standard.

Our approach

1. Analysis of current changeover processes:

   • Perform a thorough analysis of current processes (industry or services) within the organisation to identify the steps needed to reduce setup times when changing products or tasks.
     Identify the different activities performed during the setup process, including both internal and external tasks, and collect data on the duration of each activity.

2. Design digital tool:

   • Defining the functionalities and features of the digital tool based on the findings from the analysis of the processes.
   • Design an intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate and guides users in identifying and eliminating waste and inefficiencies in the setting process.
   • Integrate functions for capturing and analysing data on setup times, including recording start and end times of each activity and generating reports and graphs for analysis.

3. Development digital tool:

   • Using appropriate development technologies and frameworks to build the digital tool, such as mobile apps or desktop applications, depending on the needs of the organisation.
   • Implement functionalities to capture, store and analyse data, including the use of databases for data storage and management and algorithms for data analysis and visualisation.

4. Testing, implementation and training:

   • Implement the SMED tool within the organisation and provide training and support to users to ensure they can use the tool effectively.
   • Monitor the use of the tool and collect feedback from users to identify and address any issues or areas for improvement.

What can you expect?

• Organisation has mastered advanced knowledge of the lean tool SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies).
• Organisation can autonomously work on SMED optimisations and analyses using digital SMED tool.
• Organisation strives autonomously towards Operational Excellence with ultimate focus on changeover time reduction.