Search results

1 – 2 of 2
Article
Publication date: 3 June 2014

Shivdasini Singh Amin, Rakesh Atre, Ankur Vardia and Boby Sebastian

The global manufacturing industry is becoming more competitive. Munjal Showa, a shock absorber manufacturer in India, is using indigenous development of lean machines by…

Abstract

Purpose

The global manufacturing industry is becoming more competitive. Munjal Showa, a shock absorber manufacturer in India, is using indigenous development of lean machines by incorporating concepts of lean manufacturing and low-cost automation techniques to increase their competitiveness. This new approach has helped the company to reduce cost of manufacturing and to increase productivity by reducing cycle time and down time. The purpose of this paper is to offer an in depth study of how at Munjal Showa Ltd lean machines are being developed and manufactured. This paper explores how a cumbersome machine was transformed into a lean machine.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores how a cumbersome machine was transformed into a lean machine.

Findings

This new approach has helped the company to reduce cost of manufacturing and to increase productivity by reducing cycle time and down time.

Research limitations/implications

The paper discusses the process of converting one cumbersome machine to a lean machine.

Practical implications

Creativity before capital. In lean, team brainstorming of ideas and solutions is emphasized instead of spending large sums of money on capital expenditures

Social implications

The cockpit model eases pressure of incumbents on the shop floor.

Originality/value

The concepts espoused in the paper has increased productivity by 3.45 times and reduced costs.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 63 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2013

Shivdasini Singh Amin, Rakesh Atre, Ankur Vardia, Vaibhav D.K. Gupta and Boby Sebastian

The global manufacturing industry is becoming more competitive. Munjal Showa, a shock absorber manufacturer in India, is using indigenous development of technology by…

Abstract

Purpose

The global manufacturing industry is becoming more competitive. Munjal Showa, a shock absorber manufacturer in India, is using indigenous development of technology by incorporating concepts of lean manufacturing, total productive maintenance (TPM) and low cost automation techniques to increase their competitiveness. This new approach helps the company to reduce cost of manufacturing and to increase the productivity by reducing cycle time and down time. The aim of this paper is to offer an in depth study of the four phases of indigenous development of machines at Munjal Showa Ltd.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers an in depth study of the four phases of indigenous development of machines at Munjal Showa Ltd with the benefits and results.

Findings

Proper understanding of process requirements and tool designing in accordance with process requirement are the two major factors which help to down size the machine and to identify unnecessary parts. By applying these techniques on BC‐21 machine, Munjal Showa is able to reduce the space used by 68 percent, break downs by 93 percent, cycle time by 48 percent and an increase in productivity by 52 percent.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is looking at only one company as an example which is a limitation and cannot be generalized for all industries.

Practical implications

Indigenous development enables company to reduce costs and service machines quickly as they themselves have developed the machines.

Social implications

Physical fatigue of incumbents at the shop floor is considerably reduced by using concepts like cockpit layout and combining of processes on a single machine. Improves job satisfaction and productivity of shop floor employees.

Originality/value

In India, this is one of its kind initiatives taken up by the business excellence team at Munjal Showa Ltd.

1 – 2 of 2