Productivity Improvement in Furniture Manufacturing Industry by Using Kaizen.

1Kishore B. Lad, 2Dr. A. P. Kedar, 3Milind M. Urkudkar, 4Pooja B. Bijwal

Undergraduate Students, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, DBACER Nagpur.

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, DBACER Nagpur.

Abstract:

The objective of this study is to understand and improve the productivity by applying kaizen methodology in the industry. Kaizen is a continuous improvement cycle which includes various techniques.

Kaizen is an ongoing improvement involving everyone, including both managers and workers. Kaizen implementation and other continuous improvement practices can be used by companies to lower manufacturing costs and increase productivity. Kaizen activities are one way that companies can increase their effectiveness.

In a manufacturing industry, the plant layout and material flow in the shop floor also plays a key role in influencing productivity through distance and time. Research work has been carried out to evaluate the designed plant layout.

Initially, production process was analyzed through time study. Preliminary survey showed that in the existing layout travelling distance was time-consuming. Efforts were made in new plant layout to reduce the time and distance between subsequent processes.

The study initiated by evaluating and identifying the problems occurred in the industry, continued by data collection. Study, process analysis and plant layout design, simulation were used as technique to improve the process.

The plant layout is modified by using kaizen methodology. The new layout result was compared with existing layout result and shows an improvement of productivity. The distance and time of the production flow can be reduced

Keywords - Cycle Time, Kaizen, Layout design, Productivity, Simulation.

Kaizen 38