Track: Lean

Abstract

Lean manufacturing is a management approach focused on operational improvements. Lean concepts are being utilized by industries to improve the performance of current processes. The purpose of this paper is to uncover the significance of lean manufacturing concept implementation in the mining industry, especially in coal barge loading conveyors. Bottleneck analysis, process standardization, and process balancing has been utilized to improve the coal barge loading conveyor facility. Results indicated the productivity of the loading barge conveyor improved 161% from 372 to 971 tons per hour by implementing the lean principle. Productivity improves significantly after implementing lean manufacturing techniques in a case company. This article demonstrates the practical application of the lean technique in coal barge loading conveyors showing how it can bring real breakthroughs in productivity improvement in the coal mining industry.