Title: Implementing a lean production system on a food company: a case study

Authors: Mª Victoria De-La-Fuente Aragón; Lorenzo Ros-McDonnell

Addresses: Grupo GIO, ETSII, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, C/Dr. Fleming, s/n, 30202 Cartagena, Spain ' Grupo GIO, ETSII, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, C/Dr. Fleming, s/n, 30202 Cartagena, Spain

Abstract: This paper describes a project to increase a food manufacturer's productivity by applying several lean production techniques to the company's manufacturing organisation, production quality and efficiency. The company has decided to improve several specific sectors within their factory, where deficiencies and lack of productivity were observed in some of their work lines. This work shows the lean system implementation on the company: from the initial diagnosis, the improvement plan proposed and how it was implemented, to an analysis of the results obtained. Final recommendations made to the company dealt with the lean culture and its work and production methods, in order to be gradually implemented in the whole company.

Keywords: continuous improvement; kaizen; productivity analysis; lean production; lean indicators; lean implementation; food manufacturing; case study; lean culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEME.2015.069904

International Journal of Engineering Management and Economics, 2015 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.129 - 142

Received: 15 Oct 2014
Accepted: 04 Mar 2015
Published online: 15 Jun 2015 *

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