Implementation of the SMED method on a production line to improve work efficiency

In a dynamically changing market, manufacturing companies must meet the growing expectations of customers in terms of manufacturing costs, high product quality, and order fulfillment time. Therefore, they continually improve their production processes, using various methods, tools, and techniques that can reduce or eliminate losses and increase operational efficiency. One such solution is the SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) method, which enables shortening the machine changeover time, thereby increasing the process flexibility and reducing Lead Time. The article is a case study and presents the results of implementing the SMED method at the welding station on the production line for bridge gratings. The research was carried out in four stages, by the SMED methodology. As a result of implementing SMED, the welding machine changeover time was shortened by 61%. Thanks to the introduced changes, over 40 minutes of production time were recovered, which resulted in the additional production of 4 pieces of bridge gratings (achieving an increase in efficiency by 4.77%).