CYCLE TIME REDUCTION THROUGH MINIMIZATION OF TRANSPORTATION AT A PALLET MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN THE PHILIPPINES

In the pursuit of profitability and competitiveness, more companies are turning to lean manufacturing to reduce or eliminate waste in their production processes. Cycle Time Reduction to increase productivity was the aim of the study. Top two (2) most existing lean manufacturing waste s namely transportation and motion were identified and confirmed after observation. Oth er tools such as time study, interview, survey and measuring distances were used to obtain the necessary data. Process activity chart and four different preferred lay - outs in order to minimize transportation were presented to reduce the cycle time in maki ng the plywood - based pallet. Interchanging the nailing section after the cutting section (dice & cube), in line with the faceting section and the assembly line had been proposed. In effect, the company will be able to produce sixty nine ( 69 ) units per hour which is equivalent to 552 plywood - based pallets per eight (8) hour of wor