https://doi.org/10.24928/2018/0254

A Lean Approach to Improve Productivity in a Coke Oven Refurbishment Project: A Case Study

Bernardo Martim Beck da Silva Etges¹, Bruno Bronzatto Pereira² & Thiago José Salgado da Silveira³

¹M.Sc. Eng, Project Manager, Steinbock Consulting, Etges Engenharia, Porto Alegre, Brazil; [email protected]
²Mechanical Eng., RIP-Kaefer, Indaiatuba, Brazil; [email protected]
³ Lean Coordinator., RIP-Kaefer, Indaiatuba, Brazil; [email protected]

Abstract

This paper presents a 3-phased Lean Construction Project (LCP) implemented in a specialized and integrated service company. The purpose of the LCP was to increase productivity and to re-structure Production Planning and Control routines. It was undertaken by a group of internal and external consultants for a period of four months of workshops and more four months of sustainability on-site. The construction project focused by the LCP was the refurbishment of a Coke Oven in a Brazilian Steel Mill. The three workshops regarding the Lean Construction background were: (a) Analysing the construction activities and support process (Planning, Contract Management, Supply, Warehouse, Safety); (b) Redesigning Production Planning and Control tools, routines and responsibilities; and defining a new Work plan schedule regarding takt-time; and (c) a Productivity Workshop implemented through wastes identification, activities reorganization and work provision. For all these workshops, a work group was formed covering consultants, managers, engineers, team-leaders and front-line workers. Finally, the workshop results were assessed through comparison of the productivity indicators with the base-line defined in the Analysis Stage. After the LCP, the project achieved its main objective with the walls assembly productivity improvement by 20%. This result was reached with fewer people performing more efficiently (less time). Moreover, the operational efficiency improvement guaranteed a 46% increase in the gross margin of the contract.

Keywords

Production Planning and Control, Productivity, Lean Construction

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Reference

Etges, B. M. B. S. , Pereira, B. B. & Silveira, T. J. S. 2018. A Lean Approach to Improve Productivity in a Coke Oven Refurbishment Project: A Case Study, 26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 1112-1121. doi.org/10.24928/2018/0254

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