Optimising Changeover through Lean-Manufacturing Principles: A Case Study in a Food Factory

Operations management is a key aspect in any manufacturing business. Optimising the of operations allows improvement productivity and efficiency industrial activities. To achieve this, reducing waste from processes and, therefore, implementing lean-manufacturing principles, key. This article presents case study to reduce changeover at ready-meal manufacturer based South Yorkshire, UK. We identified large number activities as part process. applied Single Minute Exchange Dies (SMED) methodology whenever possible, eliminate changeover, line hopping further optimise changeover. After measures, time was reduced by nearly 30%, OEE increased over 70%, labour costs were 10%. shows how lean principles can aid more effective economically sustainable operations.