Cost Optimization by Incremental Production Improvements of Metal Cutting Operations

Summary, in English

The focus of this project has been to find a method on how to do production improvements systematically in the case of manufacturing by means of metal cutting operations. Typically every company determines their cutting data with the help of previous experiences as well as recommendations made by the tool manufacturers. These chosen cutting data may be the optimal settings for the specific operation although the probability for this is very slim. Some large companies have resources to investigate and find the optimum cutting data by themselves but this is usually not the case for SMEs. These companies need a clear and logical method on how to find the machining optimum while not causing too many delays or scraped parts during the normal production. The goal of this research was to find a method to incrementally optimize the production in terms of manufacturing costs of the machined parts in SMEs. The proposed method is illustrated by an analysis of the results obtained from a case study at a small Swedish company. The present work constitutes a good foundation for the optimization of the production process and thereby has a strong relevance toward the area of sustainable production.