Método de melhoria contínua na engenharia de manutenção: estudo de caso em uma indústria alimentícia.

Abstract

Industries face the daily challenge of maintaining quality, reducing costs and ensuring the reliability of their processes. To achieve these goals, many of them adopt management tools focused on continuous improvement, among which the PDCA cycle stands out for its simplicity and efficiency. This method makes it possible to understand problems in a structured way, identify their causes, plan appropriate actions, and monitor the results obtained, creating a constant cycle of learning and evolution. This work presents a case study developed by the maintenance team in a food industry, where the challenge encountered was the recurrent cost with the change in the Noria chains, equipment responsible for transporting the product throughout the production line. From the application of the PDCA cycle, it was possible to analyze the history of occurrences, collect data, identify the root cause of the problem and implement corrective actions. The monitoring of the process showed positive results, with a 50% reduction in cost, an increase in the useful life of the chains by more than 75%, and the fulfillment of the goals defined by the company. In addition, the work demonstrated the possibility of replicating the methodology in other company processes, strengthening the culture of continuous improvement within the organization.