Utilizing Tacit Knowledge in Development of Production Process
Jantunen, Siina (2016)
Jantunen, Siina
2016
Tuotantotalouden koulutusohjelma
Talouden ja rakentamisen tiedekunta - Faculty of Business and Built Environment
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2016-12-07
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201611224743
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201611224743
Tiivistelmä
When work stages are lacking standard operating procedures, the same tasks are done differently leaning heavily on the experience and the tacit knowledge of the operator. The research problem is that production targets are not always reached with given time and materials, because of the variation between different shifts in the quality and the production efficiencies. The aim of this study is to find the key work stages and the key talents that are effecting on the production stability and to plan a road map how the variation can be stabilized in long-term
This thesis consists of the conceptual analysis of Lean Manufacturing theory and impact on work standardization, and theory of Knowledge Management, in scope of tacit knowledge and its transferring methods to explicit form. The second part is the empirical part, in which the information of the key challenges of hitting targets of the case company was gathered interviewing and studying historical data. The empirical data is in addition based on researcher´s own experience. Using the theoretical background, the suggestion was made for mapping the knowledge gaps in the case company and develop tools to transfer tacit knowledge to be shared as standard operation procedures within the production teams. The goal is to improve eventually production stability so that the targets can be achieved in every shift irrespective who is working on the shift.
The purpose was to achieve a feasible road map for the process improvement. By creating the road map for standardizing the key tasks, production stability and output reliability can be achieved, which leads to more flexible production and better customer service in long-term. Production stability comes from producing planned products in the right quality, at the right time and in the right quantity. Standardized processes are also the key for continuous improvement; improvement process starts from the existing standards.
This thesis consists of the conceptual analysis of Lean Manufacturing theory and impact on work standardization, and theory of Knowledge Management, in scope of tacit knowledge and its transferring methods to explicit form. The second part is the empirical part, in which the information of the key challenges of hitting targets of the case company was gathered interviewing and studying historical data. The empirical data is in addition based on researcher´s own experience. Using the theoretical background, the suggestion was made for mapping the knowledge gaps in the case company and develop tools to transfer tacit knowledge to be shared as standard operation procedures within the production teams. The goal is to improve eventually production stability so that the targets can be achieved in every shift irrespective who is working on the shift.
The purpose was to achieve a feasible road map for the process improvement. By creating the road map for standardizing the key tasks, production stability and output reliability can be achieved, which leads to more flexible production and better customer service in long-term. Production stability comes from producing planned products in the right quality, at the right time and in the right quantity. Standardized processes are also the key for continuous improvement; improvement process starts from the existing standards.