Application of 5S and standardized work to improve labor productivity: Case of textile SME

Abstract

Textile sector in Peru is composed mostly by SMEs and 76% of these enterprises are informal businesses, whose main characteristic is low labor productivity that affects competitivity and profitability. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to increase the labor productivity in a Peruvian textile SME using a Lean Manufacturing methodology through 5S and Standardized Work in four processes: classification, ironing, finishing and packaging. Validation methodology consist in simulation trough Arena software using data which was collected by pilot testing. The results showed an increase in productivity of 5% (from 8.05 to 8.45 blazers/man-hour), an improvement in time efficiency of up to 96%, a reduction of the delay time for unnecessary transport and movements in 62.95% using 5 S, as well as a reduction in the standard time of 9.57% with Standardized Work. © 2024 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved.