Case Study · Continuous Improvement & SMED

Embedding a Culture of Continuous Improvement

A three-year Lean Six Sigma transformation partnership with a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer — from belt-level capability building to on-site changeover excellence.

IndustryPharmaceutical
Engagement3 Years
Sites2 Manufacturing Sites
Liquid pharmaceutical product manufacturing quality control laboratory
10 | 12
Green Belt | Yellow Belt Projects
3
Operational Units Optimised
₹120+ L
Total Validated Savings
2
Manufacturing Sites
Client Snapshot

A well-established name in Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing

The client operates two manufacturing sites in India, producing a diverse portfolio of dosage forms across solid and semi-solid manufacturing. With a strong commitment to quality, compliance, and operational efficiency, the organisation sought a structured, data-driven improvement programme to eliminate chronic losses, reduce variability, and build sustained internal capability in Lean Six Sigma.

The Challenge

Four hurdles standing between the business and sustainable improvement

01Changeover times in Granulation and Compression units were unstructured and non-standardised, driving equipment downtime and production delays
02Improvement initiatives were ad-hoc with no common problem-solving framework, causing recurrence of issues and limited knowledge transfer across shifts and sites
03Internal capability to lead data-driven projects — from problem definition through to verified financial savings — was absent or underdeveloped
04No formal belt-level certification pathway existed to recognise, sustain, and scale improvement competencies
Our Approach

Capability building, project mentoring, and hands-on SMED — run in parallel

Stat Modeller was engaged as a long-term improvement partner to build lasting Lean Six Sigma capability while directly tackling the plant's biggest source of downtime — changeover time — through dedicated on-site consulting.

01

Capability Building

Structured Yellow Belt and Green Belt training delivered across both sites, equipping shop-floor teams and engineers with a common language for problem-solving and process improvement.

02

Project Mentoring

End-to-end DMAIC project coaching for 22 belt-level projects, ensuring rigorous application of statistical tools, root cause analysis, and tollgate-based progression from Define through to Control.

03

On-Site SMED Consulting

On-site application of SMED methodology across Granulation and Compression units in 3 operational areas, driving structured changeover reduction through waste elimination and standardisation.

Every belt-level project followed the rigorous DMAIC (Define–Measure–Analyse–Improve–Control) framework end-to-end, while a dedicated on-site SMED workstream tackled changeover inefficiencies in parallel — two complementary levers deployed under one governance model.
Key Outcomes at a Glance

Changeover time cut across every unit — and a self-sustaining project pipeline

Changeover Time Reduction minutes

8
4
Unit 1
37
12
Unit 2
33
9
Unit 3
Before After

Six Sigma Projects 22 total

22Projects
Green Belt — 45.5% (10) Yellow Belt — 54.5% (12)
Financial Impact

Total validated financial savings of more than ₹120 Lakhs delivered across both sites — combining hard savings (cost reduction, waste elimination) with soft savings (productivity and throughput improvements). Return on investment significantly exceeded programme costs.

Organisational Capability

A self-sustaining cadre of certified Green Belt and Yellow Belt practitioners now leads improvement work independently at both sites, backed by a structured governance model — tollgate reviews, savings validation, and control plan documentation — embedded as standard practice.

“The engagement with Stat Modeller has been transformational — not just in terms of financial savings, but in building a mindset of continuous improvement across our teams. The rigour of DMAIC, combined with hands-on SMED implementation, has equipped our people with skills they continue to apply every day.”
— Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Client
Why Stat Modeller

What made this partnership work

Industry-Specific Expertise

Deep domain knowledge in pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors, enabling contextually relevant training, tooling, and project selection.

End-to-End Ownership

From training design through project closure, savings validation, and control plan handover — a single accountable partner across the entire improvement lifecycle.

Sustained Engagement Model

A long-term partnership approach that builds lasting internal capability rather than a one-time intervention — ensuring improvement gains are sustained and scaled.

Ready to build a culture of continuous improvement?

Let's talk about what a structured Lean Six Sigma and SMED programme could look like for your organisation.

Talk to Us
+91 73839 60590 contact@statmodeller.com Vadodara, Gujarat, India

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