Improving an Inefficient Production Line Via AHP and Value Stream Mapping

Nowadays competition among companies is rapidly increasing with the progress of technology. In order to stand out in this competition environment, companies need to be renovated in their own fields. Many companies use lean manufacturing techniques to achieve this renewal. In this study, it is aimed to show how Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of Multi Criteria decision making method can be used as in choosing which product line to initially apply value stream mapping method. The study was performed in a company operating in the automotive sector. Criteria for the AHP method were first determined by taking expert opinions and the most suitable product line was selected by applying the AHP method. After that value stream mapping has been applied to the determined product line. The future state mapping is drawn up to improve the problems seen in the current state mapping and a plan of action was presented for improvements.