Citation:

Luis Angel Delgado-Romero, Andre Alvarado-Cespedes, Richard Nicholas Meza-Ortiz. "Improving Sewing Efficiency in Garment SMEs: A Lean-TPM Production Model Adapted to the Peruvian Context" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 206-216, 2025.

Abstract:

Small garment manufacturing companies in Peru face persistent inefficiencies in their sewing operations, often exacerbated by limited resources and a lack of structured methodologies. Previous studies have addressed Lean and TPM applications, yet few have contextualized these tools for small-scale firms in Latin America. This research tackled those challenges by proposing a production model integrating 5S, autonomous maintenance, and standardized work routines within the PDCA cycle. The model was implemented in a Peruvian SME and tailored to its specific constraints. After four months, sewing process efficiency increased by 14.15%, Overall Equipment Effectiveness rose by 21.35%, and both rework and disorder-related losses dropped significantly. These results suggest that Lean-TPM integration can generate measurable benefits even in low-resource environments. The study contributes to closing a gap in practical applications for small apparel firms and offers a replicable approach. Future research should explore long-term effects and expand validation across diverse production settings.

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Keywords:

Lean Manufacturing, Total Productive Maintenance, Sewing Process Efficiency, Garmen Industry Standardized Work.