Browsing by Author "Pereira, Pedro Jorge Oliveira"
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- Evaluation of the impact of implementing lean tools on labour safetyPublication . Pereira, Pedro Jorge Oliveira; Sá, José Carlos Vieira deLean tools are an increasingly powerful way of achieving fast transformations in companies, usually resulting in efficiency and quality improvements, as well as cost reductions and elimination of waste in the tasks performed. These transformations are desired so that companies can improve their results and become more competitive. However, the appreciation of a company is not only measured in the results associated with its final product or service, safety is also a factor that can be highlighted in an organisation, this factor is increasingly important in the eyes of its customers. Inadequate safety at work can result in accidents, which are events that do not add value to the final product and should consequently be eliminated. This study was conducted using the ‘action research’ methodology. The aim of this work is mainly to analyse the impact of the tools and methods associated to the lean philosophy on the safety of the members of a company. To achieve this goal, various lean tools were implemented at Toyota Caetano Portugal, S.A. The results of these implementations were analysed in order to conclude their impact on the safety of the company's members. This study sought to answer the question: ‘How do lean tools impact on occupational safety in a company with high safety standards?’. A review of the literature revealed that most of the analysis on the impact of lean tools in the field of occupational safety results in a positive conclusion. Different lean tools have been implemented, resulting in an extremely positive impact on the productive process. Creating the conditions to reduce operating times, making the process more efficient. It has also resulted in improved product quality, elimination of waste and reduction in process variation. To evaluate the impact of the lean tools on occupational safety (Lean Safety), an objective evaluation was conducted, namely a risk assessment before and after certain lean tools were implemented. This assessment resulted in a reduction of the risk level of the evaluated process. On the other hand, a more subjective evaluation was also carried out to measure the perception of safety among the company's employees, which concluded that there was no change in this factor between before and after the lean activities and tools implemented. By implementing lean tools, it was possible to significantly increase productivity, reducing 8 minutes in the affected process. At the same time as increasing productivity in this process, it was possible to convert it into one of the logistics processes with the least associated safety risk, when prior to implementation it was one of the most critical in this regard. Finally, it can be said that the application of lean methods can enhance a production process's performance while simultaneously improving security for workers.