SMT 580 - Lean Manufacturing and Process Improvement

(Formerly DMT 580.) Graduate standing. (4)

Overview of the lean production system and how it can be implemented within a company or organization to improve profitability by reducing waste. Key concepts include visual management, Five S, TPM, Kaizen, kanban, jidoka, hoshin planning, and PDCA. Students learn to identify and define key concepts that create a lean environment, to prepare an in-depth report on a key component of lean manufacturing and its effects, and to develop an organizational value stream map to substantially reduce costs. Not open to students with credit for SMT 380. Graded ABCDE