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SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies) is a system for dramatically reducing the time it takes to complete equipment changeovers. The essence of the SMED system is to convert as many changeover steps as possible to “external” (performed while the equipment is running), and to simplify and streamline the remaining steps. The name Single-Minute Exchange of Dies comes from the goal of reducing changeover times to the “single” digits (i.e. less than 10 minutes). A successful SMED program will have the following benefits: Lower manufacturing cost (faster changeovers mean less equipment down time) Smaller lot sizes (faster changeovers enable more frequent product changes) Improved responsiveness to customer demand (smaller lot sizes enable more flexible scheduling) Lower inventory levels (smaller lot sizes result in lower inventory levels) Smoother startups (standardized changeover processes improve consistency and quality)
The SMED system has three major phases as shown above. These phases are performed in sequence and the entire sequence can be iterated (repeated).
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