Methods for Efficiency Improvement of Production and Logistic Processes

In the changing economic environment, global competition where the customer demands are changing continuously, the enterprises have to focus on cost reduction, efficiency improvement, higher productivity and profitability. In the production, the resources (raw materials, humans, machines, equipment, etc.) are always limited. It is very important for the manufacturing companies to produce cost effective final products in a short lead time which can be achieved by minimized cost and higher effectiveness, and therefore, efficiency improving methods are needed. There are lot of tools and sophisticated methods for design, analysis and improvement of production and logistical processes. The author introduces the most often applied methods for it, which are the simulation, Lean method and layout design. The paper summarizes the characteristics, typical application fields of these methods and the reasons for application of these. Main aims of logistics process improvement and the main steps and advantages of the described methods are introduced.