Analysis of the Implementation of the Single Minute Exchange of Die Methodology in an Agroindustry through Action Research

Abstract

This work aims to implement and analyze the effect of the Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) implementation in the bean packaging operation in a company in east Minas Gerais, Brazil. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology used was action research. Two cycles of action research were conducted; the first to carry out phase one of SMED, and the second to execute phases two and three. Originality/Research gap: There are few studies on the application of Lean Manufacturing tools in agroindustry. Some works present case studies, mainly in the food supply chain aiming to fill this gap. Regarding SMED applied in agribusiness, no work was found. Key statistical results: The implementation of this methodology allowed the reduction of setup time by around 58%, the distance travelled by operators in the process by approximately 50%, in addition to gains in a production capacity of 14%. Practical Implications: It is concluded that the application of the methodology caused an increase in the company’s productivity, as it was possible to obtain gains in productive capacity without changing the amount of hours worked or the number of employees involved in the production process. Limitations of the investigation: This methodology was applied only once and the challenges encountered were not documented.

Open Innovation in Agribusiness: Barriers and Challenges in the Transition to Agriculture 4.0

“…The analysis showed that some studies stand out and can contribute to developing technologies through access to information through open innovation. Using sensors and cloud computing would efficiently improve production processes and prioritize this proposal in future studies [72]. A framework was proposed and evaluated in actual conditions on a farm, remotely monitoring and controlling the precision agriculture installation systems [73].…”

“…[ [70][71][72]78,82] The main challenges are process orientation, standardization, data communication and security, and knowledge transfer. Many new technologies are still in the testing phase, requiring simultaneous engineering practices for evaluations.…”

“…The main obstacle is the investment in performing preventive tests with these technologies to verify if they will generate positive results and avoid future problems. On the other hand, software development will facilitate the application, intelligent control, and automation of the processes [70][71][72]78,82], generating results to be shared and replicated according to the concept of open innovation.…”

The Impact of Single Minute Exchange of Die and Total Productive Maintenance on Overall Equipment Effectiveness

“…Reducing changeover time leads to a reduction of lead time and ensuring and enhancing competitiveness, as manufacturing loss is related to loss of competitiveness (Malindzakova et al, 2021). Benefits of implementing SMED include cost and waste reduction, increased production capacity and flexibility of the equipment, increased machine efficiency and customer satisfaction (Ribeiro et al, 2022). Thanks to increasing the availability and the efficiency of the production line, SMED allows for increasing the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (Otero & Lopes, 2018;Suryaprakash et al, 2021;Pattaro Jr. et al, 2022).…”

“…In this article, we focus on tools such as Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), which are aimed at managing machines and equipment, reducing waste and lead time. Short lead times mean higher flexibility and improved competitive position (Malindzakova et al, 2021;Ribeiro et al, 2022). These tools were chosen concerning their impact on competitiveness and at the same time with regard to the focus of the author's collective.…”