Reduktion av materialspill i produktion : En fallstudie om hur tillverkningsföretag kan reducera materialspill

Sammanfattning: Purpose – Manufacturing companies are challenged to utilize their full resources in the form of raw materials. Thus, the residual material that is not used becomes waste for the companies. By minimizing the material waste, operations can become more profit- driven because the manufacture can produce more units for the same amount of raw materials. In addition, the raw material has a direct impact on the environment as it contributes to footprint waste. Thus, the purpose of this study is:  To increase the understanding of material waste in production processes  The purpose has been broken down into two research questions:  Why does the material waste occur in production processes? How can the material waste be reduced in production processes? Method – The study conducted a case study with quantitative and qualitative focused research to fulfil the study's purpose and answer the study's questions. The literature review has been shaped by reviewing previous research and, together with the data collection methods: interviews, observations, and document studies, has formed the empirical section. The authors have used various Lean tools to map the fall company's processes and identify causes of material waste. In the analysis section, the authors intend to identify repeated patterns of cause-effect-cause-effect and then present solutions to manufacturing companies.  Findings – There are several reasons why material waste occurs and thus various suggestions for improvement. Manufacturing companies can integrate and collaborate with their suppliers and customers through workshops. The effect is that manufacturing companies can reduce material waste because natural waste and overproduction are reduced. Thus, they achieve a more sustainable supply chain. Thereafter, manufacturing companies should design a functional production system to reduce machine conversions and thereby reduce the number of scraps. Furthermore, manufacturing companies can apply quality controls at goods receipt to obtain good quality on incoming materials. Finally, manufacturing companies should include operators in the application of standardized working methods. Consequently, manufacturing companies can identify systematic deviations and work on continuous improvements to reduce material waste.  Implications – The study can provide manufacturing companies with innovative thinking and provide the opportunity to apply the recommendations the studied possessed. Consequently, manufacturing companies that use similar manufacturing methods as the case company can use the study as a guide on how these to think about reducing material waste.  Limitations – The study was intended to have good reliability and validity, which means that the study uses triangulation. On the other hand, it would have been advantageous to study several manufacturing companies with a similar manufacturing process to further strengthen the study's reliability.