Diseño de una propuesta de mejora para el proceso de pilado en una planta agroindustrial arrocera, utilizando VSM

Abstract

CONDITION FOR PUBLICATION OF PROJECT. The rice industry is a key pillar of the country's economic development, making it essential to increase the efficiency of plant operations. This study proposed a plan to optimize the milling process at a plant near the canton of Nobol, applying the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) methodology under the Lean Manufacturing philosophy, aimed at boosting business profitability. By implementing VSM, it is possible to detect bottlenecks, waste, and limitations in production capacity, so that improvement strategies can be designed to increase system performance. This project is justified by the need to reduce the underutilization of installed capacity and losses that affect competitiveness. During its execution, various information gathering techniques were used, such as direct observation, staff interviews, and time studies, which allowed the process flow in its current state to be represented graphically. This diagnosis facilitated the identification of tasks without added value, unnecessary waiting times, and operational coordination failures. Based on these findings, a model of the future state was developed with proposals focused on the reorganization of human resources, the formalization of agreements for better coordination, and the implementation of preventive maintenance plans. Finally, the results show that adopting Lean tools, particularly VSM, is an effective alternative for achieving sustainable improvements without large investments, while also promoting a culture of continuous improvement within the organization. Keywords: operational efficiency, continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, productivity, agroindustry.