Applicering av ett LEAN förhållningssätt vid en ökad volym vid materialhantering En fallstudie på ABB

Sammanfattning: ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of the study is to present what a big increase of volume at the material handling process would mean for a company, and how different processes within the handling process would be affected. This study will show, non-value-added processes that can exist within the material handling are also visualized, and how to make a potential effectivization. To be able to answer the aim of the study three research questions was created: How can a company’s material handling handle a volume increase of 30 %? Which non-value-added processes limit the material handling within companies?  What methods exist for inventory management and what are the benefits of these?   Methodology: A literature review have been conducted in parallel with a case and benchmarking study.  The case study contains qualitative interviews, observations and experiment, and by this a process mapping has been conducted to visualizes muda through the process. The benchmarking studies is relying on interviews as well as observations on three different companies. The literature review contains processes that are used for material handling, inventory, lean, automation, layout, cost optimization, delivery capability as well as VMI inventory.     Result: The study result in a visualization of muda in the material handling process at the case company, through this improvement proposals could be delivered regarding the working process. With the visualization as a base a cost estimation regarding individual mudas cost and the following consequences. The benchmarking studies resulted in improvement suggestions at the case company and an indication of what the different methods would mean when adapted. The companies have different aspects in relation to the case company which mean that the different improvement suggestions are of different magnitudes.     Implications: The purpose of the study has been achieved by answering the research questions. By identification of non-value-added through the process curtain points for improvement has been identified. The improvement suggestions have support from the literature review and the benchmarking study. As the study has only been conducted at one company during a curtain period of time the author reserves for a generalization of the identified factors that does not include all companies, and should instead be seen as an indication.     Recommendations: For further studies regarding volume increase at the material handling process should be studied at other companies with other limitations than the case company to further increase the scientific value.