Application of Lean Manufacturing Tools for a Workshop Production System

Job shop manufacturing environments have characteristics that make it difficult to implement some of the Lean methods that are prevalent in large-volume manufacturing systems. In this chapter, a real-life case study is documented where Lean tools are adapted and adopted in a high product variability, customized production, and low volume with lead times out of the control limits. Lean was implemented to overcome some important challenges such as the lack of capacity to handle larger production volumes. The methodology presented and the case study that illustrates the managerial decision-making and processDecision-making and process improvement help demonstrate a useful route to improved performance, faster manufacturing response, and organizational strategy that helps plant capacity to reduce delivery times.