AB Furhoffs Rostfria is a company with its base in Skövde. They are specialists in the manufacturing of stainless-steel parts, such as plumbing products, floor wells and sinks. In addition to manufacturing their own products, the company also has a subcontract to manufacture other companies’ products. The department where this bachelor thesis will be conducted has a subcontract to manufacturing radar cones and treats only the production of the most frequent manufactured radar cones. The department consists of seven manufacturing steps and three additional steps for one of the details. The purpose of the bachelor thesis is to create a simulation model that shows how potential improvement proposals would meet the expected increase of the order intake of the radar cones by streamlining the current production flow. In order to achieve this, a simulation model has been created in which the improvement proposals have been implemented. The improvement proposals that have been tested are based on the data that has been collected through production engineering methods. The frame of references describes the theory that constitutes the foundation for the chosen methods. In addition, areas within discrete event simulation, lean production and improvement work have been studied from other works in the literature review. These areas can in some way relate to the work and conclusions of this project. The empirical study was conducted by using observations according to genchi genbutsu, conversations and interviews with operators, spaghetti diagrams of the operators and the product flow as well as time studies according to the continuous method. These methods have formed the basis for both the creation of the simulation model, where the current situation is reflected, and for the development of the future state simulation model. The future state simulation model shows the implementation of the improvement proposals that increases efficiency and production volume throughout the system. The empirical study resulted in a visual overview of the production flow, standard times, the identification of waste as well as improvement proposals. When all the improvement proposals were implemented, the hourly production was increased by 26.6% and the lead time was reduced by 21.1%. With these improvements, the company can increase their production and profit significantly. / AB Furhoffs Rostfria är ett bolag som är baserade i Skövde. De är specialister inom tillverkning av produkter i rostfritt stål, såsom rörprodukter, golvbrunnar och diskbänkar. Förutom tillverkning av egna produkter har företaget en legotillverkning för att tillverka andra företags produkter. Avdelningen där detta examensarbete har genomförts är en legoproduktion av radarkonor och examensarbetet har endast behandlat produktionen av de mest producerad radarkonorna. Processen består av sju tillverkningssteg och tre ytterligare steg för en av detaljerna. Syftet med examensarbetet är att skapa en simuleringsmodell som visar hur potentiella förbättringsförslag kan möta den förväntade orderökningen av radarkonorna genom att effektivisera det nuvarande produktionsflödet. För att uppnå detta har en simuleringsmodell skapats där förbättringsförslagen har implementerats. De förbättringsförslag som har utarbetats bygger på data som har samlats in genom produktionstekniska metoder. Den teoretiska referensramen beskriver den teori som utgör grunden för de valda metoderna. Dessutom har områden inom diskret händelsesimulering, lean produktion och förbättringsarbete studerats från andra arbeten i litteraturstudien. Dessa områden kan på något sätt relatera till arbetet och slutsatserna i detta projekt. Den empiriska studien genomfördes genom att använda observationer enligt genchi genbutsu, konversationer och intervjuer med operatörer, spagettidiagram av operatörerna och produktflödet samt tidsstudier enligt den kontinuerliga metoden. Dessa metoder har utgjort grunden för både skapandet av simuleringsmodellen, där den nuvarande situationen återspeglas, och utvecklingen av den framtida simuleringsmodellen. Den framtida simuleringsmodellen visar implementeringen av förbättringsförslagen som ökar effektiviteten och produktionsvolymen i hela systemet. Den empiriska studien resulterade i en visuell översikt över produktionsflödet, standardtider, identifiering av slöseri samt förbättringsförslag. När samtliga förbättringsförslag implementerades i simuleringsmodellen ökade genomströmningen av produkter per timma med 26,6% och ledtiden reducerades med 21,1%. Med dessa förbättringar kan företaget öka sin produktion och vinst avsevärt.

Today's markets are dynamic, which places increasingly high demands on companies' efficiency of processes and ability to adapt to changing situations. Inventory management includes all activities linked to the creation of customer orders ready for delivery, including stocking of goods, physical placement and picking of goods and assembly before delivery to the customer. The purpose of the study is to investigate the characteristics, challenges, and improvement potential for finished goods storage with the associated loading function within the wood industry. This qualitative case study has been carried out at a company within the wood industry in Sweden and data has been collected through interviews and observations to analyze and identify key aspects for effective warehouse management.  The results highlight the importance of leadership, commitment, and standardized working methods for the optimization of warehouse processes and increased productivity within the business. Through the application of lean principles such as kaizen and Genchi Genbutsu and the promotion of a positive work climate, wood companies can streamline their inventory management practices and improve their overall efficiency. The study draws attention to the fact that a combination of standardized working methods and guidelines, with the support of leadership and commitment, creates the conditions for making warehouse management more efficient in the long term.

The outdoor logistics in wood industry is an interesting research area since many factors need to be taken into consideration for an efficient process. However, little research can be found specifically in term of the outdoor logistics within wood industry. The purpose of this study is to design a model for streamlining outdoor logistics in the wood industry. Additionally, what important factors for more efficient outdoor logistics are also to be investigated.  According to Institute for Transport Research (2002), the material handling is defined as all physical handling, movement, storage and packaging of materials. To make the study scope clear, the outdoor logistics is specifically defined as the outdoor material handling in this study, and the outdoor refers to the local area outside the production buildings. A major part of this investigation work has been performed at one case company called Valbo Trä. The research is done through literature review, interviews, site observations at case company, and has generated a broad and deep understanding of the operations at the case company and the theoretical basis for the model development.  This study shows that the demand for different products is very different as well as the lengths and quantities of the products. Such fluctuating demand generally occurs in the wood industry, not only at the case company. The unpredictability of the demand for raw materials makes it complex for the case company to meet the customer's demands for finished products. On the other hand, the material handling becomes complex when the inventory levels increase. The inventory levels create, among other things, tied up capital, obsolescence, tighter handling space and poorer visibility for the truck drivers. Obsolescence that occurs can be traced to material handling. Damage occurs during internal transport and the wood suffers from damage due to weather conditions during outdoor handling. When handling materials outdoors, there are also risks in the form of obscured visibility during transport with loaders. Violation of speed limits and varying compliance with safety rules also occur. High inventory levels also affect the possibility of applying FIFO. Flows, obsolescence, and safety have been identified as the most important factors for more efficient outdoor logistics within the wood industry. Based on the identified factors a model could be designed and applicable within the wood industry.

Titel: Att växa med Lean Bakgrund:  Lean är en metod för verksamhetsstyrning som syftar till att minska slöseri i form av tid och och kostnader samt förbättra effektiviteten i organisationen. Från dess att Lean introducerades av Toyota på 1950-talet har Lean diskuterats utifrån olika perspektiv. Perspektiven är Lean utifrån ständiga förbättringar samt Leans för- och nackdelar. Utifrån det förstnämnda diskuteras Lean ofta utifrån produktutveckling och förändringsprocesser. Vid den andra vanligt förekommande diskussionen om Lean pratas det om  metodens för- och nackdelar. Det  debatterar ofta om Lean i positiv bemärkelse och de främsta fördelarna som lyfts fram är att Lean är en metod som främjar effektiviteten i ett företag. Å andra sidan, beskrivs Lean vara ett komplext koncept där beskrivningen av begreppet hos flera anses vara diffust. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att skapa en ökad förståelse av hur utvecklingen av användandet av Lean ser ut efter flera år i organisationen. En förståelse av de kritiska faktorer som kan uppstå kommer att skapas och man får en insyn av vilka utmaningar som eventuellt  uppstår när lean funnits i en organisation under en längre period. Metod: Studien är en fallstudie som undersöker hur utvecklingen av Lean-användander sett ut under en längre period och vilka kritiska faktorer som uppstår under denna tid i ett företaget. Studien utgår från en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi med en induktiv forskningsprocess, där det empiriska materialet samlats in genom sex semistrukturerade intervjuer. Slutsats: Utvecklingen av Lean kan beskrivas som en tidslinje enligt faserna Bristen, Systemet, Födseln, Ungdomen, Livslångt projekt, Tillväxt, Människan och Krisen, där Krisen kan inträffa när som under tidslinjens gång. Kritiska faktorer för att bibehålla Lean i en organisation under en längre period omfattas av delaktiga ledare som arbetar nära medarbetarna, utbildning av medarbetarna om syftet med Lean och insikten i att Lean är ett livslångt projekt där anpassningen aldrig tar slut. Vidare är en kritisk faktor att inte bli alltför byråkratisk, utan fortsätta låta medarbetarna ta beslut. Att stirra sig blind på enskilda Lean-verktyg och inte se Lean utifrån ett helhetsperspektiv är också en kritisk faktor. Den sista kritiska faktorn är att skapa delaktighet för medarbetarna. / Title: To grow with Lean Background: Lean is a method of operational management aimed at reducing waste in the form of time and costs, as well as improving efficiency within an organization. Since its introduction by Toyota in the 1950s, Lean has been discussed from various perspectives, namely continuous improvement and the advantages and disadvantages of Lean. The former perspective often focuses on Lean in the context of product development and change processes. The latter, more common discussion about Lean, revolves around the method's pros and cons. There is often a debate regarding Lean in a positive light, highlighting its main advantages, such as promoting efficiency within a company. On the other hand, Lean is described as a complex concept, with the description of the term considered ambiguous by several sources. Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to enhance the understanding of how the development of Lean utilization evolves after several years within the organization. By gaining insight into the critical factors that may arise, one can acquire an understanding of the challenges that may potentially emerge when Lean has been present in an organization for an extended period. Method: The study is a case study that examines the development of Lean utilization over an extended period and the critical factors that arise during this time in a company. The study adopts a qualitative research strategy with an inductive research process, where the empirical data has been collected through six semi-structured interviews. Conclusion: The development of Lean can be described as a timeline consisting of the phases of Gap, System, Birth, Youth, Lifelong Project, Growth, Human, and Crisis, where the Crisis phase can occur at any point along the timeline. Critical factors for sustaining Lean in an organization over an extended period include engaged leaders  working closely with employees, educating employees about the purpose of Lean, and understanding that Lean is an ongoing project where adaptation never ceases. Additionally, a critical factor is to avoid excessive bureaucracy and continue empowering employees to make decisions. Focusing solely on individual Lean tools and failing to see Lean from a holistic perspective is also a critical factor. Lastly, creating employee involvement and participation is crucial.