Continuous improvement of the logistics processes of an automotive company

• Autor(a) principal: Pinheiro, Lígia Maria Pereira Martins
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/37197
• topic: Automotive industry; Logistics; Continuous improvement; VAVE; Lean; Ergonomics; Standardized work; Digitization

Currently, companies increasingly compete for their place in the market. To remain competitive, they are constantly looking for productivity and continuous improvement, using the lean philosophy and digitalization. It is estimated that when a product reaches the final consumer, about one third of its total costs are logistical. It is therefore crucial to improve logistics processes. This project was developed in the continuous improvement department of a company in the automotive industry, in cooperation with the logistics department, with the main objectives of analysing and improving the company's logistics processes and digitizing the documents used. Hence, the project focused on logistics continuous improvement, being divided in four initiatives/use cases: productivity improvement project, ergonomics, follow-up of improvement actions in logistics processes and the transition of work standards in paper format to digital format in a commercial computer application. Using different internal and external methodologies (VAVE, PDCA, standardized work, ergonomics, BPM) it was possible to develop several improvements in the existing processes and propose new solutions, based on the simplification and improvement of files and structures previously used, as well as visual management. Regarding the productivity improvement project, this was split in three parts: improvement of the action simulation process, implementation of the proposed actions themselves (raw materials, finished goods and transportation) and the creation of a dashboard for the presentation of results from productivity actions. The ergonomics initiative focused on improving the process for logistical ergonomic studies and the creation of a dashboard to analyse the results obtained through these studies. Regarding the follow-up of improvement actions in logistics processes, a transition was made from a Deming cycle on paper, to a digital format, and a dashboard was also created which allows the analysis of actions by different categories. The strand of work standards was focused on the transition to a new digital application (mlean®), as well as training and monitoring the employees on its use. The objectives of this project were achieved, and the company recognized that this work added value to its processes. Finally, several improvement opportunities were identified for future consideration.