Cloverleaf Model for Efficiency Improvement Through the Application of Lean Tools in a Metalworking SMEs

Abstract

There are several factors affecting the metalworking sector: elongated waiting times, late deliveries and low quality of end products. All these variables tend to cause low efficiency in production, which generates delays in the delivery of orders and penalties for failure to meet delivery dates. To understand this problem, order records are reviewed, a time study is carried out to know the duration of each process, a cause-effect diagram is drawn up and the Pareto principle is applied by performing an 80/20 analysis of the root causes. Therefore, the model generates a contribution in the expansion of the knowledge of the application of Lean Tools as Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Kanban, Poka-Yoke, Line Balancing (LB) and Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) within medium-sized companies.