Process layout for the production of procedure trays at Mölnlycke Health Care

Abstract: The scope of this Master's Thesis was to investigate possible improvements
in the production of procedure trays at Mölnlycke Health Care. The work has
consisted of two parts: one concentrating on the layout around the assembly
tables, the other on transport solutions and location for a future
sterilization unit. For the first part we built up conditions for how to
apply lean production. These changes were then tested in a pilot, and
thereafter analyzed and evaluated. As expected the result was that the
normal lean improvements are not directly applicable to the production of
procedure trays. Improvements for this type of production should rather be
done in scheduling and planning, than in time saving in production
processes. Investments that first of all will lead to a decrease in direct
wages are often not economically defensible in an emerging economy. The
improvements to go further with are the small continuous improvements in
line with kaizen. For the future sterilization unit, three location
alternatives where agreed on with the corporate process management, and
thereafter evaluated. Two of the alternatives was considered possible: one
which will create a good material flow inside the factory, the other which
in case of an accident is safer. We showed how a possible automated
transport solution would look like, and what advantages that would have
backwards in production and for the future competition possibilities.