LEAN MANUFACTURING USING STANDARD OPERATIONS PROCEDURES AND SETUP ANALYSIS AS TOOLS

Abstract

In today’s fast moving, complex business environment manufacturing becomes a commodity within the value chain. In such an environment there is need to focus on creating efficiencies that drive down the products costs. World’s largest automobile manufacturers to the World’s largest computer manufacturer are now focusing on ‘leaning’ their manufacturing operations. Lean manufacturing principles provide an excellent framework for squeezing costs out of manufacturing. However, lean manufacturing by itself is not enough for success. In this paper it is presented that in today’s volatile demand fragmented supply environments, we must combine lean manufacturing principles with Standard operating procedures (SOP’s). By doing this we can understand and address the causes of variability and manage the exceptions better. These two principles working in unison will provide enough flexibility to allow responding demand and supplying uncertainties. These will also add tremendous value and are essential ingredients to drive manufacturing costs and time efficiencies.