⏱️ TPS: SMED (SINGLE-MINUTE EXCHANGE OF DIE)

Tool changes in minutes? SMED is the key to Toyota's flexibility.

SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) is a technique to drastically reduce tool change times. Toyota used it to produce small batches economically.

Key Points

Reduce changes to minutes (not hours) ⏱️
Allows economical small batches 📦
Convert internal to external operations 🔄

Practical Example: A metal stamping machine applied SMED: separated internal/external adjustments, standardized tooling, used quick fasteners. Changes dropped from 3.5 hours to 28 minutes. Optimal batches of 500 to 50 pieces.

Reflection: How long does it take you to change your tools?

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Improvement