Addressing Operational Inefficiencies in Custom Jewellery Production through Lean–TPM–SMED Tools: A Peruvian Case Study

Artisanal gold-jewellery-making in Peru has suffered from frequent machine stoppages and long mould swaps, which delay orders and dent product quality. This research set out to develop and test a Lean-plus-Total-Productive-Maintenance framework designed to lift shopfloor performance while preserving the craft skill embodied in each piece. Over four planned phases, a small export firm was guided through single-minute exchange of dies, scheduled maintenance checks, and real-time metric boards. Data collected after the intervention showed order-fulfilment efficiency climbed by 11 percent, maintenance-compliance rates rise by 24 percent, and mould-change and SMED times dropped by 37 and 38 percent, respectively. These results help fill a scholarly gap by showing that industrial techniques can be adapted for low-volume, highly customized production lines. The framework serves as a step-by-step playbook for jewellery micro and small enterprises, proving that consistent output flow can coexist with artistic craftsmanship in fast-moving export markets.