Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) is a lean manufacturing technique that focuses on reducing the time it takes to change over a production process from one product to another. The goal of SMED is to reduce the amount of time it takes to switch from one product to another to less than 10 minutes, ideally within a single minute.
The SMED technique was developed by Japanese engineer Shigeo Shingo in the 1950s and has since been widely adopted in the manufacturing industry.
The process involves analyzing the changeover process and identifying any steps that can be streamlined or eliminated. The goal is to make the changeover process as efficient as possible by reducing the number of steps involved, reducing the time required for each step, and improving the coordination between workers and machines.
SMED can help manufacturers increase their productivity, reduce costs, and improve quality by allowing them to produce smaller batches of products more frequently, respond to customer demands more quickly, and reduce waste associated with longer changeover times.
Overall, SMED is a powerful technique that can help manufacturers optimize their production processes and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced global market.
