Title: Case study on process improvement in a 'transformer oil testing laboratory' using value stream mapping for improving service time

Authors: Hitesh Karandikar; Uday Puntambekar; Jignasu Yagnik; Devang Joshi

Addresses: Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Nadiad-Petlad Road, Changa, Gujarat, India ' ERDA, ERDA Road, GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara, Gujarat, India ' LJ University, Near Sanand-Sarkhej Road, Makarba, Sarkhej-Okaf, Gujarat – 382 210, India ' New Age Makers Institute of Technology (an initiative of AcerlorMittal Group), Research Park, IIT Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to improve the report printing activity of the electrical testing laboratory after testing. At a transformer oil testing laboratory at Vadodara, Gujarat, India, customers were facing problem of delayed report delivery after testing of oil. A detailed study of the process was done to check if the value stream mapping and value stream analysis can be applied to improve the report delivery time. After study of 'as is' situation a new system was implemented for the transformer oil testing laboratory. Diagram of various activities were drawn for 'as is' condition and time taken for each activity was noted down. The non-value adding activity consuming unnecessary time 'waiting' was identified and removed. A new software was developed for reporting. It resulted into reduction of report issuance time by minimum 21 days for 2,698 samples out of 5,475 samples tested during FY 20-21.

Keywords: process; process improvement; quality; value stream mapping; flow diagram; transformer oil testing; plan, do, check and act; PDCA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2025.145576

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2025 Vol.44 No.4, pp.528 - 546

Received: 23 Jan 2023
Accepted: 12 May 2023
Published online: 07 Apr 2025 *

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