A LEAN PRODUCTION STRATEGY FOR HOT CHARGE OPERATION OF A STEEL MILL

This paper aims to show how a strategy based on lean production can aid the implementation of hot-charge operation in steel strip production. Key parameters in a lean strategy for steel manufacturing are identified, and it is shown that lean production targets the difficulties that are traditionally associated with hot charging. Hot charging amounts to a closer level of integration of the continuous casting and hot rolling processes. The conclusions are that implementation of hot charging can be seen as a waste-reduction process within a lean production strategy, and that there are substantial cost savings to be made once the full benefits of a lean production strategy are considered.