Application of the SMED methodology

This work shows the application of a Lean Manufacturing technique, specifically the SMED methodology ＂Single Minute Exchange of Die＂ to a dryer, in the drying area, in order to reduce the set-up time, since nowadays this process takes 5 hours and 20 minutes and this action is performed by a single operator and this generates unnecessary waiting and movements. And therefore increase the productive time of the dryer. This methodology establishes a series of steps, in which the operations that take place during the batch changeover process are studied conscientiously, making it possible to radically reduce the preparation time. At the conclusion of this project, the final results were favorable, since the desired objective, which was to reduce set-up time by 20%, was surpassed, and a reduction of 31.04% was achieved, increasing the reduction in batch changeover time and increasing the area’s productivity.