Kanban system implantation as a helping technique of the Production Planning and Control: A case study at a medium-size factory

The present article reports the experience of the Kanban system implantation on a pilot cell at a medium-size factory in the mechanical metal sector in São Carlos-SP. The reason for implanting the Kanban system arose in the hope of aiding Production Planning and Control in order to seek technological standards of administration more adequate to the world reality. For the Kanban system implantation a Just-in-Time environment has been created at the pilot cell to generate a consistent system as well as a learning model for the factory. The work has been done with employees who have had low schooling and all didactical material used has been elaborated using training activities. After one and a half years’ (1130 hours) work at the factory, highly satisfactory results-both qualitative and quantitative-have been attained.