Lean Toolbox for Seasonal Process Industries: A Nougat Fabrication Case Study

Abstract

Although lean production tools are considered an urgent prerequisite for producers everywhere, in the process industry, and particularly the seasonal process industry, there is surprisingly little use of these techniques. The aim of this paper is to analyze and facilitate the implementation of the core tools for lean in the seasonal process industry. The second part of the paper presents a brief case study of a nougat fabrication company to show the applicability of this proposal. Although process industries may need to adapt the traditional lean tools to better fit their circumstances, the case study will show how, with slight modification, several tools were applied successfully and with great impact.