SMEDmenetelmät

SMED stands for Single-Minute Exchange of Die. It is a lean manufacturing technique used to reduce the time it takes to change over a production process from one product to another. The goal is to reduce the changeover time to a single digit number of minutes, ideally less than ten.

The SMED methodology was developed by Shigeo Shingo in the 1950s. It involves analyzing the steps required for a changeover and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency. The process typically involves several stages: initial analysis, separating internal and external setup, converting internal setup to external setup, and streamlining all aspects of the setup. Internal setup refers to operations that can only be performed when the machine is stopped, while external setup can be done while the machine is still running. By converting as many internal setup tasks as possible to external setup tasks, the overall downtime is significantly reduced.

Key principles of SMED include eliminating waste, standardizing operations, using visual aids, and empowering operators. The benefits of implementing SMED include reduced lead times, increased production flexibility, lower inventory, and improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). It is widely used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and electronics, to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness.