SMED & Time and Motion
SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) is a system for dramatically reducing the time it takes to complete equipment changeovers. The essence of the SMED system is to convert as many changeover steps as possible to “external” (performed while the equipment is running), and to simplify and streamline the remaining steps. The name Single-Minute Exchange of Die comes from the goal of reducing changeover times to the “single” digits (i.e., less than 10 minutes).
A successful SMED program will have the following benefits:
Lower Manufacturing Cost: faster changeovers mean less equipment downtime
Smaller Lot Sizes: faster changeovers enable more frequent product changes
Improved Responsiveness to Customer Demand: smaller lot sizes enable more flexible scheduling
Lower Inventory Levels: smaller lot sizes result in lower inventory levels
Smoother Start-ups: standardised changeover processes improve consistency and quality