Applying lean thinking to couple manufacturing and assembly in high-mix, low-volume environment: value stream of make-to-order valves at HOERBIGER Ventilwerke Wien

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Authors

Abstract

The production environment of HOERBIGER Ventilwerke GmbH & Co KG is considered as high-mix, low-volume and is strongly market-driven and highly volatile. The main products of the facility are suction and discharge valves. The two main parts (seat and guard) are representing the components with the highest value and complexity in a valve. Currently the component manufacturing and valve assembly are decoupled by the warehouse, thus breaking the continuous flow of value and extending the lead time. Make-to-order valves make a significant portion of HVW’s production, where this segmentation could be bridged by coupling the manufacturing with the assembly in a more direct way. This thesis intends to find out the feasibility of this coupling, furthermore to find a way to make it an integrated part of the supply chain of make-to-order valves. Challenges of the increasingly complex and competitive business environment have directed the focus on lean thinking and agile supply chains. The theoretical part builds the foundation of theoretical knowledge documented in the literature about lean and agile to understand the essentials and correspondences of these concepts. As lean was initially developed for serial production, the thesis focuses more on its fundamentals, and discusses the applicability to the company’s business environment. After reviewing the current state at the company, the scope of an eventual coupled system is estimated. The initial conception of the coupled system is followed by the effects of current limitations and a closer approximation of the impact to serve as the base for the detailed concept. The paper gives a guide to a pilot, which would give knowledge for future implementation. Finally, the ideal system structure, where the potential of the coupled system can be maximized, is exposed.

Details

Translated title of the contributionAnwendung des Lean Thinking zur Kopplung der Komponentenfertigung und Montage in einem High-Mix/Low-Volume Umfeld: Der Wertstrom einzelgefertigter Ventile der HOERBIGER Ventilwerke Wien
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Zsifkovits, Helmut, Supervisor (internal)
  • Sahyoun, Ahmed, Supervisor (external), External person
Award date30 Jun 2017
Publication statusPublished - 2017