Analysis of Lean Transformation and Lean Manufacturing Tools and Techniques in the Automotive Industries (Man Force Trucks and Volvo Eicher Motors)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.

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DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSii

DECLARATIONiii

Introduction to the problem1

Theoretical framework1

Background of the study2

Rationale2

Research Questions3

Assumptions and de-limitations3

Nature of the study4

Organization of the study5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

Introduction7

Lean manufacturing and transformation currently7

Elements of lean manufacturing and transformation10

Automation11

Advancement in lean manufacturing and transformation tools/techniques13

EDI15

MRP15

ERP16

CAD16

Vision system17

Wireless technology18

Industrial biotechnology18

Transfer machines19

Organizational change20

Cultural change21

Work practices change23

REFERENCES25

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction to the problem

Lean manufacturing and transformation has been used by many organizations to compete globally, and considering the changes in the process of continuous improvement in manufacturing concepts. The way manufactured products included craft, mass production and lean manufacturing. Art led to the mass production and mass production led to lean manufacturing. Lean manufacturing and transformation has revolutionized the way products are produced today. (Wingate 2009, 38)Mass production invented by Henry Ford also changed the way products indeed in many industries and was critical in promoting manufacturing concepts that led to domain in the world of car manufacturing for domestic automakers (Wilmeth 2008, 25).

Theoretical framework

Technology has also provided the means to improve organizational performance areas of quality, cost and response time. Technology has been at the heart of the changes underway in the form of goods are transported and treated to improve response time. Many companies are using both hard and soft technologies to improve organizational performance. The absence of technology as an important factor in organizational performance is almost unthinkable. Today's technology offers a great impact on competitiveness.

Both lean manufacturing and transformation advances are providing automotive industries with the means to compete. The driving question comes to mind is, "What is the impact of fat the principles of integrated production technology on organizational performance in the form quality, cost and response time?”Despite a number of studies have been conducted in manufacturing principles and technology, none has focused on impact of integration of the principles of lean manufacturing with technology in the organization performance in the way of quality, cost and response time as an important strategy in the organization.

Background of the study

The scientific management methods and the philosophy of mass production manufacturing and practices developed by Henry Ford led to significant useful improvements for ...