Linking Heijunka and SMED: How Changeover Reduction Enables True Production Leveling

In today's fast-paced manufacturing environment, the ability to adapt quickly while maintaining efficiency is a game-changer. Linking Heijunka and SMED demonstrates how reducing changeover times (SMED) directly enables the practice of Heijunka—production leveling—the cornerstone of Lean manufacturing.

In this practical guide, Dr. Mohammed Hamed Ahmed Soliman, author of Toyota Production System Concepts: SMED – How to Do a Quick Changeover and Heijunka: The Leveling Art of the Japanese Auto Industry, distils decades of industrial engineering and Lean transformation experience into actionable insights. You'll learn how:

SMED empowers factories to switch between products rapidly without sacrificing productivity.

Heijunka creates balanced, predictable workflows that reduce waste and improve flow.

Combining both tools supports true just-in-time production and sustainable competitiveness.

Real-world examples, templates, and checklists help you apply concepts immediately.

Whether you are a plant manager, Lean practitioner, engineer, or student of industrial systems, this book will help you master the link between quick changeovers and level production flow, driving both efficiency and stability in your operations.

Includes:

A SMED implementation checklist

Heijunka box template

Example KPI dashboard for tracking results

Bring the best of Lean into your factory—make changeovers faster, production smoother, and customers happier.