The Impact of Lean Manufacturing in Production Process in Reducing Lead Time
Umar Syauqi Mokhtar, Nurshamimah Samsuddin

Faculty of Technology Management and Technoprenuership, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

Abstract

The focus of this research is the application of Lean Manufacturing or simply Lean tools in decreasing production lead time, which is important in competitiveness and manufacturing efficiency. This study centers on four particular Lean tools: Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S Methodology, Lean Six Sigma (LSS)/DMAIC and Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED). These tools are examined focusing on their ability to enhance production performance, specifically lead time, waste and production flows.

The study was a quantitative cross sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 200 electrical manufacturing workers in Malaysia. Descriptive statistics, reliability tests of Cronbach^s Alpha, and multiple regressions to test the correlation of VSM, 5S, LSS/DMAIC and SMED as independent variables to production performance as a dependent variable were conducted on the data.

The findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge that gives empirical results for the effectiveness of various Lean tools in manufacturing environments from a scholarly as well as industrial perspective. A useful contribution is also providing to policymakers and industry leaders interested to implement Lean as a vehicle for sustainable change in operations. Future studies could be on the combination of Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies for a better optimization of the production.

Keywords: Production Performance,Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S Methodology, Lean Six Sigma (LSS)/DMAIC and Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED).

Topic: New Media: Impacts, Benefits, and Barriers