SMED implementation vid slipoperation
The thesis has investigated how Sandvik Coromant could implement the SMED principle on one of their grinders groups and what improvements it would lead to. The aim of the thesis is to identify the current situation and investigate how their setup times would be affected by SMED. The work initiated with a literature analysis about the SMED principles and then proceeded with an analysis of the current situation where the activity was time mapped. The analysis consisted of time trials of the process that the thesis would include. The time studies revealed opportunities for structural improvements to create environment for a more structured process. Conversations and interviews with operators during the studies and monitoring of the processes generated a number of improvement opportunities. When improvement suggestions were generated and priorities of which was to be implemented, Sandvik Coromant gave the implementation of principal improvement proposals the highest priority The work continued in that direction and took out routines and suggestions on an updated workplace. This has generated verified set-up time reductions of 68% in the most time consuming process. The improvements that have been implemented during the thesis has not reduced set-up time to under ten minutes but if the client implements all components of the action plan, the time will be approached. Besides looking at setup time the order change process has been examined and there are parts of that process that can be streamlined. To implement the suggested changes will create opportunities to reduce the order replacements time by over 70%. This means substantial savings for Sandvik Coromant. Even if only a part of the improvement proposals will be implemented it will lead to drastic improvements with average setup time reduced drastically.