SMED: Single Minute Exchange of Die | TaktClock Learning Center

SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) is the methodology for reducing changeover time — the time required to switch a production line from one product to another. Reducing changeover time enables smaller batch sizes, more frequent production of each part, and greater scheduling flexibility.

The target: "Single minute" means under 10 minutes — not literally one minute. The original goal was to get changeovers into single-digit minutes from hours. Most facilities achieve 30–50% reduction in the first SMED study with no capital investment.

Internal vs. External Changeover — The Key Distinction

⚙ Changeover Timeline — Before and After SMED

Before SMED — 84 minute changeover (machine stopped entire time)

16 min

30 min Setup

20 min

18 min Adj

Gather tools & materials → Remove tooling → Install new tooling → Adjust & trial

After SMED — 38 minute changeover (external tasks pre-done while machine runs)

16 min — machine RUNNING

22 min

Adj 16 min

External tasks done while running → Machine stopped for install only → Reduced adjust time

✓ 54% reduction: 84 min → 38 min. Achieved by converting 16 min of internal tasks to external — no capital investment.

📊

TaktClock SMED tab (Professional+): Logs every changeover event with start/end time, area, and operator. Builds the data to answer: which changeovers take longest? Are times improving? Which areas have the most events per shift?

❓ Knowledge Check

A changeover task involves collecting the tools and fixtures needed for the next run. Currently done after the machine stops. This is best classified as:

✓ Correct! Tool and fixture collection does not require the machine to be stopped — it can happen while the current job is still running. This makes it an external task. Converting it to external eliminates its contribution to machine downtime time with zero process improvement required.

See It Live

These Principles, Running on Your Floor

30 minutes. Live TaktClock demo configured for your areas and processes.