Reduction of Setup Time—Concepts and Techniques

Abstract

In 1970, Toyota succeeded in shortening the setup time of an 800-ton punch press for the hood and fender to three minutes. This is called a single setup, meaning that the setup time has a single-digit number of minutes (within nine minutes, 59 seconds). At present the setup time has, in many cases, been reduced to less than a minute, or one-touch setup. Before 1981, American and European companies often spent from two to several hours, or at worst, an entire day on a setup action.