Lean and Agile for Production Process Analysis and Optimization: The Julius Meinl Italia S.p.A. case

This thesis presents the use of Lean and Agile techniques within improvement projects in manufacturing companies, using the ongoing project at Julius Meinl Italia S.p.A. as a case study. The research aims to employ the Lean approach and some of the most well-known Lean techniques to analyze and study the current (as-is) coffee packaging process on two production lines. A thorough analysis of the methods and times related to the work of both humans and machines, as well as their interaction, was conducted. This allowed for the identification of issues and opportunities for improvement, such as inefficiencies in material management, workflow inefficiencies, and the lack of operational standards. Consequently, solutions and projects for implementation were proposed. The improvement project was managed using Agile methodology, enabling a connection between Lean and Agile techniques and demonstrating the necessity of their integration in contemporary companies.