Logistics and forecasting of changes should be permanent elements of logistic activity. This requires the observation of new conditions for logistics as well as its multifaceted analysis, i.e. the perception of mutual relations and impact. New logistics concepts resulting from technological development will be created. One of the new solutions is the concept of Industry 4.0, the implementation of which can generate innovative solutions and long-term effects on the industry, including significantly production logistics.
The main purpose of the paper is the analysis of a process of change focusing particularly on the concept of slimmed production (Lean) and its implementation in the enterprise. A case study method was chosen as a research tool because it offers wide array of techniques and means of gaining and analysing data. A metallurgical company was evaluated as a case study in this article. Thanks to the implementation of Autonomous Maintenance the company reached a growth in skills and responsibility for work done and a reduction in malfunction at work places. Thus, total process maintenance (TPM) as one of the Lean concept tools whose implementation significantly influences industrial workers’ competences was chosen for the analysis. Referring to the bibliography on change management, the article focused on one of the changes in particular – the change in human resources management (namely in employees' skills) in steel and manufacturing companies.
Growing competition, clients’ requirements as well as advances in technology make modern industrial enterprises search for a way of achieving and maintaining strong position on the market. One of the principal and at the same time necessary conditions to achieve this aim is continuous development of all of the processes in order to fulfil various clients’ expectations. Enterprises make use of different concepts and management methods which in significant way upgrade ongoing processes by raising their efficiency. One of such is the concept of ‘lean’ production - Lean Manufacturing. Management according to Lean Management rules allows to produce more with the use of less resources - at the same time approaching the aim which is to deliver clients the exact product they want. The process of resources use limitation is not easy to perform however, the concept of Lean Manufacturing by the application of chosen tools allows successfully and effectively to introduce ‘lean’ model of management in an enterprise and undertaking following improvement activities in every of its field.
The ongoing processes in production enterprises must be constantly monitored and improved in order to meet the requirements of growing competition in the technical, technological and organizational aspects. Also, customer expectations regarding the quality of products are constantly increasing, while maintaining the lowest manufacturing costs. The analysis of the course of operations, exploited resources, materials, recharges, as well as the identification of risk and losses are the basis for improvement and optimization, leading to increase in process efficiency, as well as optimisation of organization and working conditions. There are many management methods and tools used to streamline processes. Currently, Lean Management (LM) is one of the most popular and effective concepts in this field. The primary goal of LM is to eliminate activities that do not bring added value in processes, while saving resources and meeting customer requirements. The Lean concept offers many useful methods and tools that, when properly selected in the organization, implemented and used, can bring the intended results. The aim of the article is to present the results of the analysis of potentially accidental events in a production enterprise based on the identification of key threats occurring in the plant. Based on Lean Management methods and tools implemented in the company, their impact on work safety was determined.
Ensuring work safety in manufacturing enterprises is one of the employer’s basic obligations under legal provisions. Actions taken in this area translate into a reduction in the number of registered accidents at work, occupational diseases or potentially accidental events. Limiting these types of events is possible by implementing preventive solutions to reduce the risk, employers ‘and employees’ cooperation in the field of occupational health and safety. These activities may take the form of technical solutions, but above all organizational. Enterprises use various management concepts that have an impact on improving work safety. One of the solutions eliminating or reducing hazards occurring at workplaces is the TWI (Training Within Industry) program. The TWI program is the foundation of a management culture based on continuous improvement and a continuous learning process. It is considered the starting point to implement the Lean Manufacturing concept. One of the TWI modules is aimed to creating a safe workplace, i.e. TWI-Job Safety (TWI-JS). The publication presents the results of the analysis of operations performed at a selected workstation in the production enterprise in the aspect of identifying and eliminating or limiting possible direct and indirect causes of hazards that may lead to accidents at work. For this purpose, a four-step TWI-JS method was used.
The issue of ensuring work safety during the use of machines plays a key role due to the recorded accident events, the source of which are the machines in use. In the scope of reducing the risk associated with machines, particular attention should be paid to the threats, as well as solutions allowing to limit their negative impact on the operator. The study presents the possibility of using visual management (VM) as a form of information transfer that allows to meet the requirements set out in legal regulations, as well as reduce the risk of accidents. The machines in question were assessed for the possibility of using various forms of visual management to reduce the risk of accidents. The investigations were also supplemented with an analysis of accident statistics to present the importance of using visual management in improving the safety of machine operators' work. The conducted analyzes allowed to determine the direction of activities in the use of various forms of visual management aimed at improving the safety of machine operators.
Employers are under a legal obligation to provide employees with safe and hygienic conditions of work. These conditions are created by environmental factors that depend on the specifics of the enterprise, production technology and used machinery and equipment. A large number of the risks to which employees are exposed is associated with the use of machinery, equipment and working tools (as confirmed by Statistics Poland). Numerous manufacturing companies increasingly use the practice of involving operators, independently from the maintenance department, in the upkeep and maintenance of machinery and equipment in order to increase efficiency. These activities are undertaken within the scope of Autonomous Maintenance (AM), which is one of the essential elements underpinning the TPM system. The activities performed by operators within AM, such as daily inspections, lubrication or simple repairs, reduce the number of machinery breakdowns. Nonetheless, they could be a potential source of risk for employees. Companies applying the traditional division of tasks entrust the performance of such activities to qualified maintenance staff, so the proper identification of risks that takes into account the specificity of the activities performed by operators and the provision of training in the safe organization of work represent a significant feature of safety improvement. Enterprises may adopt multiple solutions in this regard, including the tools and techniques of the concept of Lean Manufacturing.
Ensuring work safety is one of the key elements of the functioning of any enterprise. This study is the second part of the article devoted to the possibility of using visual management in the implementation of preventive measures aimed at improving work safety. Visual Management (VM) is one of the tools of the Lean Management (LM) concept, and its effective implementation facilitates the communication process between participants of the work process. The use of solutions such as: pictograms, instructions, charts, sound and light signs translates into an increase in awareness of the issues of occupational health and safety, and thus constitutes an effective solution in the field of implemented OHS prevention. The study presents an assessment of the effectiveness of the implemented solutions as part of VM to reduce potentially accidental events. For this purpose, the existing hazards were identified and the occupational risk was assessed before and after the implementation of Visual Management.
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