Propuesta de mejora de la línea de producción de pulpas de una empresa dedicada al procesamiento de frutas mediante la aplicación de herramientas de calidad

Abstract

The pulp production line of a company dedicated to the processing of fruit pulps requires an improvement process through the application of the 5's and 7 waste tools, through the use of Lean manufacturing principles to eliminate waste, optimize processes, reduce costs and drive innovation. The literature review determined that the application of Lean Manufacturing practices, principles and tools to the development and manufacture of fruit pulps will allow the use of Lean manufacturing principles to eliminate waste, optimize processes, reduce costs, drive innovation and reduce time to market in a fast-paced, volatile and ever-changing global marketplace. To meet the objectives of the research, an action-research methodology was applied. The analysis led to the identification of problems in the fruit pulp production line, due to different factors identified, such as poorly designed processes, poor visual identification of work areas, safety hazards, lack of checklists for all jobs, as well as poor production planning, so it was established that the level of impact to the production line affects 100% of users, activities, processes and subsequently improvement actions were established involving the application of the Lean Manufacturing 5´s and 7 waste tools. The proposal was structured by three phases: preparation, execution and integration, whose application determined important benefits of implementing 5´s and 7 wastes, which included greater productivity, speed, greater confidence, fewer accidents, fewer breakdowns or equipment downtime, greater workspace, better performance and reduced documentation. The execution produced improvements in the work environment, the attitude and behavior of the employees, the efficiency of the processes for the elaboration of the products focused on quality guidelines. Ongoing practice, coupled with the means for periodic feedback on the effectiveness of improvement actions or problems that arise, results in corrective action and drives the cycle of continual improvement. Therefore, the link between the 5's and the implementation of an environmental management system is clear; however, in practice, the successful implementation of the 5's to improve environmental performance, cleanliness or health and safety standards will depend largely on the culture of the company.