Integral methodology simulation support for the improvement of production systems job shop. Metalworking applications in SMES

Abstract

Metalworking companies represent one of the strategic sectors in the regional economy of the Caldas department in Colombia; in fact, this sector is involved in 31% of the department’s industrial establishments and 29% of industrial employment according to DANE (Colombian State Statistical Department) statistical data from 2005. The sector also exports to Andean countries. However, preliminary studies conducted with 57% of the entrepreneurs from this sector (excluding micro companies and family businesses) have revealed serious structural (technology, processing, installations) and infrastructure weaknesses (production planning, quality systems) in these organisations’ production systems. It is hoped that this paper will lead to disseminating the results amongst the academic community of implementing a comprehensive methodology for improving the production system of a pilot company from this particular sector. An experimental framework for improving the levels reached by the system regarding such priorities is proposed following universally accepted methodology in discrete simulation studies; it proposes using sequential bifurcation, factorial design and response surface experimentation based on defining and weighting the competing priorities which the company should achieve. The improvements in the pilot company’s production system priorities are presented in terms of an effectiveness index (EI) which rose from 1.84 to 2.46 by the end of the study