Customer’ demands, higher quality, faster and safer deliveries are some reasons for unexpected changes in the organizations. It has incremented complexity and cost. Lean production is known as a methodology to make improvements in manufacturing areas such as mentioned above and it is focused on the process of a product. But, Lean Thinking is a management strategy to make improvements in the process of a product or service and it is based on five principles. It allows having the process close to the customer eliminates tasks that do not add value and produces with low costs and high quality. However, there are some concepts ambiguous to be applied effectively to the Radio Access Network area in wireless telecom industry as a service company. Radio Access Network area transmits Radio frequency (RF) signals from the Radio Base Station (RBS) to the user equipment (UE) or mobile phone and is an area to present dynamic changes by high technology innovation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify improvements through for the Radio Access Network area. This thesis was structured to know how the five Lean principles and Lean tools can be used in the Radio Access Network area and the benefits that it could have. The study was realized through a qualitative research and five semi-structured interviews. A manager, team leaders and engineers of wireless telecom industry vendor and operators were the participants for this study. The results of major impact for Lean principles and Lean tools were VSM and Flow principles and Waste as Lean tool found for the Radio Access Network area. Project definition, resource planning and VOC were some improvements revealed for VSM principle. Furthermore, faster and optimal tools, training for engineers, knowledge in software and employee empowerment were some improvements found for Flow principle. Waste Lean tool showed some improvements found on customer’s focus, clear communication and waiting time reduction. Cross functional teams were other aspects that provided quality performance in the projects. This study seemingly is a good start for making decisions and for the high technology innovation and dynamic changes for telecom service companies.

In their strive for success in competitive markets companies often turn to Lean philosophy. However, for many companies Lean benefits are hard to substantialize especially when their ventures have met success through traditional manufacturing approaches. Traditional Lean tools analyze current situations or help Lean implementation. Therefore productions facilities require tools that enhance the evaluation of Lean proposals in such a way that decisions are supported by quantitative data and not only on a gut feeling. This thesis proposes how Discrete Event Simulation may be used as an evaluation tool in production process improvement to decide which proposal best suits Lean requirements. Theoretical and empirical studies were carried out. Literature review helped define the problem. A case study was performed at Alfa Laval to investigate through a holistic approach how and why did this tool provide a solution to the research questions. Case study analysis was substantiated with Discrete Event Simulation models for the evaluation of current and future state Lean proposals. Results of this study show that Discrete Event Simulation was not designed and does not function as a Lean specific tool. The use of Discrete Event Simulation in Lean assessment applications requires the organization to understand the principles of Lean and its desired effects. However, the use of traditional static Lean tools such as Value Stream Mapping and dynamic Discrete Event Simulation complement each other in a variety of ways. Discrete Event Simulation provides a unique condition to account for process variability and randomness. Both measurement of and reduction in variability through simulation provide insight to Lean implementation strategies.

The poor safety situation in the United Kingdom (UK) construction industry and its adverse socio-economic record are well documented in the existing literature. The application of Lean Construction techniques has been proposed as an effective strategy to address accidents on construction sites, a major safety concern in the construction industry. However, examination of the relationship between Lean Construction techniques and safety issues has been marginal. This study explores this relationship with the aim of developing a framework for using Lean Construction techniques to promote safety on UK construction sites. A framework was initially devised based on a synthesis of the literature and further refined based on findings from interviews held with 10 Lean Construction practitioners on antecedents of Lean Construction techniques and safety issues. In order to develop and confirm the framework, data was collected from practicing Lean Construction organisations using a questionnaire survey and analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and inter-rater agreement statistical test to examine the pattern and extent of the relationships. The study found a total of thirty-eight (38) relationships between Lean Construction techniques and safety issues. These relationships are mainly positive in nature in that they demonstrate path to improvement in safety on construction sites. They show which techniques could be used to address the relevant safety issue. Furthermore, it was established that the application of Lean Construction techniques on construction sites can be impeded by challenges such as: lack of Lean Construction knowledge, complexity, misconception about Lean and difficulties in changing employees’ working culture. The study identified strategies that could be used to address these challenges. These include enlightenment on benefits of Lean practice, publication of improvements realised from Lean practice, training, workers’ involvement and empowerment, persistence, robust planning and gradual step-by-step implementation. The study, therefore, concludes that Lean Construction techniques have positive relationships with safety issues on construction sites in the UK and on the basis of the relationships develops an integrated framework to guide application of the techniques by contracting organisations in promoting safety. The study makes a number of recommendations including the incorporation of Lean Construction practice into government health and safety initiatives, regulations and policies, and identifies areas for further research.

Value Stream Mapping is a common tool used in a lot of instances in today’s industrieswho have adopted any kind of Lean initiatives. However, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) may not always fit to the best extent and intention of the industry applying it; therefore a need for tailoring certain aspects of it have been seen in some cases where the original tool has not been enough. However there is little research on how to adopt VSM towards the tire industry, it is the case that some adaptation is needed in order to fully map the value the chain is trying to capture as seen by some authors who use VSM on other industries. This leads to conclude that further research is needed in order to see the benefits and chal-lenges in the creating of a tailored value stream tool in order to understand how it would affect the company its applied on as well as increasing the knowledge of its capabilities and drivers for it application. The impact this research would have is to begin bridging a gap of the usage of how a Tai-lored Value Stream Mapping (TVSM) tool would affect when applied to a specific industry. For this paper, a case study within a Tire Company located in Europe, who stated that they had issues regarding their current usage and utilization of VSM, was conducted. The com-pany has projects going all over the globe but sees a lack of initiative and success without the direct involvement of its central plant. The purpose of this research is to investigate the perceived impact as well as the benefits and challenges of utilizing a company TVSM, in-stead of a standardized one, taking into consideration both particularities of the industry, as well as the culture of the firm. Also an understanding is sought to recognize the motiva-tions that drove the Tire Company to choose a tailored approach. The research was conducted as a qualitative single case study involving three different sitesbelonging to the tire industry located in Europe. It is built upon both a theoretical part, comprised by a literature review of the concepts of VSM, Lean and TVSM; and an empiri-cal part derived from the case. The Empirical data was collected through semi-structured interviews as well as participant observations, supported by secondary data collected from the company in form of written documents concerning the internal training of VSM. The findings concluded that, the reasons for sustaining a TVSM are its ease of use, and ability to reach out and be understood by people with little to no training in VSM’s. The company fitted training documents would decrease the training needed and the time spent doing so. Some other benefits were the empowerment of employees and the sharing of knowledge across multiple sites in a standardized company language. Albeit with the chal-lenge of creating and upholding such documents and training, compelling the company to have experts with knowledge of VSM and the company processes and culture with the added challenge of also maintaining regularly updates as the company moves forward. Implementation of a tailored approach is practical where there has been identified that it exists a gap between different plants or departments, local or globally, regarding knowledge or experience when there is a requirement for standardisation, communication and need for change.

This thesis is a case study conducted at the Torsby hospital, medicine department in Torsby, Sweden. The hospital has some financial, communication, and process standardizing problems and was aiming to solve them by implementing lean strategies. The data for this study were collected through structured interviews and observations in the hospital. A thorough discussion of the information gathered from the interviews and the observations made are presented related to the theoretical frame of the study. The findings of this study showed that the lean concept is actually applicable to the healthcare system except for some problems that may affect the success of the lean implementation process in the hospital. By removing or fixing these problems, the hospital can reap the benefits of the implementation process. This study presents and discusses problems in question and suggests some relevant solutions.

El presente trabajo aborda la problemática de una empresa del sector minero, específicamente se trata de una refinería de Zinc ubicada en el departamento de Lima, Perú. El campo de acción se centra en la planta de electrólisis, la cual tiene el problema de disminución de productividad (de 8.38 a 8.22 TN Zn/1000$en recursos) causadas por el consumo en exceso de energía eléctrica y aumento de mano de obra, generando resultados por debajo de los estándares internos del área y sobrecostos en recursos empleados para llegar a las metas productivas. Se utilizaron herramientas Lean para desarrollar propuestas de solución de la problemática, como el uso del SMED y Andon para lograr menores tiempos de preparación en actividades de eliminación de cortocircuitos (52%), Uso del Diagrama de Actividades Múltiples (30% de aumento de producción), Mantenimiento Preventivo para optimizar la frecuencia del mantenimiento y limpieza (reducción del 80% del costo de mano de obra extra) y la implementación de un programa de 5S para mejorar el orden y limpieza del área (aumento del 54% del índice de radar en 5S). A su vez se implementaron indicadores para monitorear el desarrollo de estas mejoras. Con la aplicación de estas herramientas se obtiene un ahorro de $378,522.00 en recursos, logrando aumentar el índice de productividad hasta su estándar interno (8.3). Estos resultados nos demuestran la utilidad de las herramientas Lean para la mejora de productividad en cualquier área que se puedan replicar, sirviendo como base para lograr la mejora contínua en las organizaciones. / The present paper addresses the problems of a mining company, specifically a Zinc refinery located in the department of Lima, Peru. The field of action focuses on the electrolysis plant, which has the problem of decreasing productivity (from 8.38 to 8.22 TN Zn / 1000 $ in resources) caused by the excessive consumption of electrical energy and increase of labor, generating results below the internal standards of the area and costs in resources used to reach the productive goals. Lean tools were used to develop proposals for solving the problem, such as the use of SMED and Andon to obtain shorter readiness times for short circuits (52%), Multiple Activity Diagram (30% increase in Production), Preventive Maintenance to optimize the frequency of maintenance and cleaning (reduction of 80% of the cost of extra labor) and implementation of a 5S program to improve the order and cleanliness of the area (54% increase in radar index in 5S). At the same time, indicators were implemented to monitor the development of these improvements. With the application of these tools you get a saving of $378,522.00 in resources, increasing the productivity index to its internal standard (8.3). These results demonstrate the usefulness of Lean tools for improving productivity in any area that can be replicated, serving as a basis for continuous improvement in organizations. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional

The purpose of this thesis is to reduce the production time while providing employees satisfaction and the problem formulation for thesis is; -How can a company use its work area effectively in order to reduce production time while providing employee satisfaction? To answer problem formulation, proper lean tools were applied. Before implementing lean tools, the study started with a questionnaire to evaluate the effect of work area on employees. Five steps of 5S were implemented on work area so as to provide an organized work area for employee satisfaction in accordance with the theory. SMED’s four stage methodology was applied to the machine in the work area where was focused by the authors in order to reduce the production time. The study was made in a Swedish Company called Swepart Transmission AB. which produces gearboxes, bearings etc. Results obtained from the study shows that employees are under effect of work area and employees were satisfied after 5S implementation, also production time will be reduced at least one hour in the length of time. This thesis can be generalised to all manufacturing companies thus both employee satisfaction and production time reduction can be provided and companies can work more effectively which enables them to become competitiveness in order to survive in market.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to reduce the production time while providing employees satisfaction and the problem formulation for thesis is;</p><p>-How can a company use its work area effectively in order to reduce production time while providing</p><p>employee satisfaction?</p><p>To answer problem formulation, proper lean tools were applied. Before implementing lean tools, the study started with a questionnaire to evaluate the effect of work area on employees. Five steps of 5S were implemented on work area so as to provide an organized work area for employee satisfaction in accordance with the theory. SMED’s four stage methodology was applied to the machine in the work area where was focused by the authors in order to reduce the production time. The study was made in a Swedish Company called Swepart Transmission AB. which produces gearboxes, bearings etc. Results obtained from the study shows that employees are under effect of work area and employees were satisfied after 5S implementation, also production time will be reduced at least one hour in the length of time. This thesis can be generalised to all manufacturing companies thus both employee satisfaction and production time reduction can be provided and companies can work more effectively which enables them to become competitiveness in order to survive in market.</p>

This Master's Thesis focuses on the analysis of the production process of fireplace insert -- chosen product of the company FLAMEN. The goal of this thesis is to analyze the production process of fireplace insert and give recommendations for improvement using Lean Tools. The company FLAMEN is new on the market and has no experience with Lean Manufacturing principles or techniques. The thesis focuses on initial implementation of Lean Manufacturing philosophy into the company. The theoretical basis of Lean Manufacturing, Process mapping and particular Lean Tools are described in the thesis. Further the production process of fireplace insert is analyzed and possible improvements are suggested. These suggestions should lead to initial implementation of Lean Production philosophy in the company FLAMEN.

In the present world scenario, the rapid industrialization and growth of manufacturing sector has led to the rise of large number of companies focusing on increase in profitability for sustaining the company’s profit margin at a higher level. While most of the companies fail to differentiate between productivity, profitability and performance as all the three growth indicators have different factors affecting them. The productivity of a system is evaluated through the ratio of output and input whereas the profitability is evaluated by measuring the capital flow. But the performance of any system is measured by the speed, quality and time consumed for delivery of a product. Thus, the preliminary growth indicator to be focused by any company must be productivity as it defines the effective input and efficient output of a system or production line and further provide attention for performance. Any productive system to function smoothly must include less amount of wastes, these wastes need not be a particular form. According to lean philosophy there are basically eight wastes arising in a system which has to be considered for elimination or reduction preferably. These wastes not only affect a particular process, while causes negative effects on the performance of entire system by causing delays in the process which increases nonvalue added time and reduces the actual operating time of a process. The present study focuses on exploring lean philosophy for identifying the existing delays of a production system and to further investigate the root causes influencing these delays which effect delivery of product. This study involves a deductive approach of qualitative type of research and the methods used for data collection includes a single case study with systematic literature review of data on which analysis is carried out and derived results are concluded in the final chapter of this research. The conclusion will be based on the results obtained from analysis of data carried out with the aid of tools existing under lean philosophy. The research is concluded by suggesting the solution for reducing delays utilizing simple tools of lean philosophy which can be utilized by manufacturing firms with effective utilization of existing machinery, men and methods and low investment of capital.