Changeover time loss reduction is compelling need for organization- why?

When the manufacturing facility produces a different component of same of the different family, it needs time between one component to another component change in the equipment or facility. The time required between two components production is called change over time or setting time.

To be specific on the definition of changeover or setup time is the time elapsed between last good piece of component  A to the first good piece of component B.It comprises Preparation Time before setting + Actual setting in the equipment + Quality proving the new component as per specification.

Why is there a compelling need for changeover time loss reduction initiatives?

In external socio-environment, there had been a shift in customer's preference, lifestyle, affordability, and expectation of spot delivery or short lead time and so on. This change in external leads to the following challenges to the business internally.

1. Frequent new product launches and reduced shelf life  of the product

2. Increase in variety with moderate/high volume

3. Meeting delivery commitment  

How the external scenario affects the organization capability on changeover time loss reduction?

Unlike it is justifiable to have dedicated equipment/facilities, the organization has to produce all varieties of the same family group in the same equipment/ facilities. If the changeover time is high, it will affect the organization in the following ways

1.Utilization loss to the equipment/facilities

2.Loss of capacity

3.Increase in manufacturing cost as all the losses would be accounted as manufacturing overheads only

4.o counter high changeover, if the organization goes for higher lot sizes, it will affect regarding higher WIP / FG inventories, possible rejections/ rework/planning cumbersome and other communication issues.

on the contrary, if the organization is continuously working on reducing changeover or setup time loss, it will  help

1. Faster delivery leads to customer 's acceptance and possible sales volume growth

2. Better manufacturing cost, in turn, product price

3. Quality improvements due to coordinated and standardized work during setting 

4. Improves the morale of the working people as they are mostly affected due to unorganized changeover process.

5 Short changeover time brings flexibility to the organization to produce variety and at the same time, not losing the utilization and people efficiency loss.

Going forward, those organization who are specialized in variety handling with minimal production cost would be fittest to survival.

One of the competitive advantage for the organization is that developing the capability to reduce the changeover continuously and increase the flexibility in meeting the customer's requirement