The use of lean practices: A case study in a clutch factory

Abstract

The Lean Production (LP) approach has been widely used by companies because it is a system that seeks to eliminate waste in production processes, enabling products and services of high quality at the lowest possible cost. Despite the growing dissemination of this production system in Brazil, there is still a need for more research evaluating the experiences of Brazilian companies that have adopted it. In this sense, this article aims to analyze the use of practices (techniques, tools) of Lean Production in a company producing clutches, located in the state of São Paulo. The research method used was the case study, carried out through semi-structured interviews, direct observation and queries to secondary data sources. The results showed the current stage of use of the techniques / tools, which are classified as intermediate, developed and advanced (notes 3 to 5); and the various benefits achieved through the adoption of lean practices such as operator motivation, reduction of stock levels, optimization of work layout, among others.