Lean study on the maintenance division at Sandvik Coromant : Resource utilization of work procedures

Abstract: Sandvik Coromant in Gimo, Sweden, is a world- leading supplier of tools and know- how for the metal cutting industry. This thesis was carried out on the maintenance division at the production plant producing tools for milling and drilling. The maintenance division is responsible for the maintenance of the machinery operating at all eight production units on the tool production plant. This thesis aims to map the value flow and non- value adding activities on the maintenance division and come up with suggestions for improvement. The study only focuses on the organizations work procedures and routines. The thesis began with a current state analysis of the maintenance division to find out how the activities, databases and service technicians interacts in daily operations. A time study showed that the proportion of non-value adding activities in some isolated cases was as low as 30%. The thesis ended in a root cause analysis, in form of a workshop, which aimed to, with help from the service technicians’ expertise and the researchers’ knowledge of lean production come up with solutions worth implementing on the maintenance division. The root cause analysis resulted in three solutions, which the researchers along with the service technicians sees as simple actions that will reduce the non-value adding time associated with the use, and handling of documentation. The analysis also resulted in sex actions seen as worth implementing, which however is more recourse demanding for the organization.