Open Access Conference Proceedings

All companies have to face a variety of everyday problems, regardless of the sector or particular focus of the organization. It also applies to enterprises in the metallurgical industry. Companies try to turn to the approaches of lean production in the hope of finding an easy and efficient solution of the issues occurring in manufacturing processes or other business areas. The effort to achieve reduction of wastes and cost savings often runs into a number of associated problems. The effectiveness of lean production methods used in practice depends on a wide range of factors, including the proper identification of the real problems, their description, detection of the current state, identification of potential and root causes, determination of the desired state and definition of ways to achieve it. Last but not least it depends on the choice of the right people, who will participate in the implementation of all these steps. Structured problem solving and application of lean production methods and tools should represent one of the basic skills of successful organization and its management. Mismanagement of these activities is often a source of unnecessary costs throughout the organization and can lead to fatal consequences, such as loss of a customer or customers. The article presents the potential of application of structured problem solving in enterprises engaged in steel production.

Keywords: Problem solving, lean approach, continual improvement

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