DTwo works developed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, supervised by professor Paulo Corrêa Lima, bring to the center of discussions the implementation of the “lean production” philosophy, based on the Toyota System of production and total quality control. Originally used to increase productivity and improve process flows in industrial production lines, engineer Robisom Damasceno Calado managed to eliminate the risk of workplace accidents when handling materials in a refrigerator factory in the Campinas region. According to Calado, the work can motivate the implementation of this type of improvement in companies in the sector and in other segments. In another study, engineer Adalberto Lima used the same tools and concepts to optimize purchasing processes and minimize bureaucratic activities in a hospital in the interior of São Paulo.
System serves to decrease accidents and bureaucracy
The lean production philosophy encompasses a series of principles and rules aimed at greater productivity with better quality, by eliminating waste and reducing operating costs. Robisom Calado explains that the system can be applied to any activity that involves people and processes, highlighting that the fact that it is considered “lean” does not necessarily mean “downsizing” people. On the contrary, in both studies the result was an increase in jobs, which means that people stopped doing what did not add value and focused on what was really useful. “A lean and continuous flow was created in which everyone knows exactly what to do and when to do it,” he explains.
In addition to greater productivity, the system also aims to reduce waste and increase quality. “To cite a close example, we can imagine the housewife in her kitchen as she performs several activities at the same time. The logistics and dynamics of the flow require an organization of the activities carried out. This is a case of process optimization”, explains Adalberto Lima. One of the difficulties, according to the researchers, is that it is not enough to use the tools without achieving an organizational culture, since the willingness and collaboration of employees are fundamental.
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