Title: Process improvement using lean tools: a case from carpet manufacturing industry

Authors: Bhavna Pandey; Vinod Yadav; Avanish Singh Chauhan; Ajay Rathore

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India ' Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303007, India ' Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303007, India ' Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India

Abstract: Lean manufacturing is a widely accepted approach for process improvement and it is considered as a universal production system. Although it has enormous application in many sectors, still carpet industries have not benefited by this approach. Present study aimed to identify wastes in the carpet manufacturing industry and eliminate these wastes by implementing appropriate lean tools. Case study approach is used to identify the process improvement by implementing lean thinking in the case organisation. This study will help the carpet industry practitioners, as it provides a framework for lean implementation. The implementation of lean tools has resulted in improved operational measures like reduction of lead time, better utilisation of workplace, decrease in material handling time, and cost and increment in overall profit of supply chain. The study presents the real world case study which shows the theoretical and managerial implication of lean implementation in the carpet industry.

Keywords: lean manufacturing; process improvement; case study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2022.120710

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2022 Vol.35 No.1, pp.117 - 142

Received: 03 Mar 2020
Accepted: 23 Aug 2020

Published online: 04 Feb 2022 *

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