Smed methodology: Improvement of overall equipment efficiency in a mechanic company

Over time, the increase in the number of manufacturing industries and the struggle for survival of companies around the world have paved the way for fierce competition. The way to survive in this race is not through large investments or experience, but through the most efficient use of existing personnel, materials, equipment and time. Lean production systems are capable of helping companies seek error-free production with the least amount of resources, in the shortest time, with the least waste, at the lowest cost, in a way that fully meets customer demands. With the increase in globalization, customers are no longer satisfied with the same type of products and increasingly demand products that suit their needs, and this need is becoming more evident. Advances in technology allow customers to buy the products they want in any country in the world, and competition for these developments is also increasing. The Lean Manufacturing approach is a technique that meets the needs of manufacturers and will pioneer this change. This study consists of four parts. In the first part, it is focused on introducing lean production studies into the literature. In the second part, basic lean production techniques are explained and information is given about the purposes for which these techniques are used and their benefits. In the third section, a detailed explanation of the SMED method, one of the lean production methods, is given. The last part is the application phase of the research. Research results are presented by applying SMED technology in a company that engages in machining.