Internal Setup

An internal setup is a task done to get a machine ready to switch from one product type to another that must be done when the machine is stopped. Obviously, the problem is that internal setup limits the time a machine can be running.

As part of any setup reduction effort, improvement teams should try to change any internal setup to an external setup, meaning it can be done while the machine is running. While this can make the setup take longer, the additional time is spent while the machine is running, so it doesn’t impact the throughput of the machine.

Once any internal setups are made external, the next step is to eliminate waste and reduce the time spent setting up the machine while the process is running.