OVERVIEW:
PRODUCTIVITY, IMPROVE MOLD CHANGEOVER TIME
A multi-coupling solution provides answers to a tier-2 auto parts manufacturer’s needs and benefits their business in a variety of ways. When we engaged in a process analysis, we identified key areas of improvement preventing our customer from achieving their SMED (single-minute exchange of dies) objective.
CHALLENGE:
MANUAL CONNECTIONS HINDERING TIMELY EXCHANGE OF DIES
A tier-2 auto parts manufacturer was struggling to improve their SMED system, to better accommodate production runs of different parts. Push to connect manual couplers prevented quick changeover of dies, and they were often exchanging dies to accommodate production runs of different parts.
SOLUTION:
GRE SERIES MULTI-COUPLING PLATE
GRE series multi-coupling plate with a superior guidance pin system allowed connection with little effort, preventing inversion of circuits with error-free connection. Switching from their standard single push-to-connect manual couplers to multi-coupling plates for their hydraulic and water coolant lines allowed them to produce parts quicker, easily switch dies between runs, and improve safety and clean-up times.
RESULTS:
ACHIEVEMENT OF SMED GOALS
By using the GRE series multi-coupling plate, this auto parts manufacturer was able to improve output and cycle times, which provided the following benefits:
- a full 6 minute reduction in exchange of dies time
- reduced finished goods inventory
- added 2 more production lines for further efficiency
- captured 25% additional business
- landed a new customer, a big 3 automaker
