AN APPLICATION OF VISUAL MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE WASTES IN IN-HOUSE MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ORGANIZATIONS

摘要

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are characterized by high-mix and low-volume operations, often present high product variability, which can result in unstructured material movement processes that are prone to material handling wastes. These sub-optimal material handling systems are oftentimes a result of an SME's limited resources, whether financial or human. In this research, the authors theorize that visual management presents an efficient and effective approach to reduce wastes in in-house material handling operations with high product variability. Visual management is useful to improve organizational structure and material flows, while remaining cost-effective and simplistic. However, the guidelines to aid companies in developing a visual management system that is tailored for their organization are few and far in between. In this research, the authors propose a tool capable of reducing material handling wastes in SMEs through utilizing a visual management system. The methodology is illustrated via a case study organization, and the results show an ad-hoc visual management system capable of increasing the efficiency of in-house material movements. The resulting framework is expected to assist SME managers in reducing in-house material handling wastes using visual management systems.