Improving the Process for Interlocking Bricks Production for SMEs Scale in Thailand: a Case Study

Interlocking bricks are popular because of their properties and construction method. The market demand is high, leading to the establishment of many companies. Many small companies have emerged in Thailand, especially in provincial regions such as Nakhon Ratchasima. They have no standard for developing the manufacturing process. Due to spatial and economic constraints, most enterprises rely on mechanical equipment and physical labor. In this study, the knowledge of industrial engineering was applied to assist small enterprises to improve the quality of interlocking bricks production by applying an ergonomic theory to analyze the work attitude and activities of employees. The FlexSim application was used to design and analyze the new process for interlocking brick production. The analysis showed that the analysis, employee working position of the employees at one station can lead to injuries. The height of the table at this station should be modified to improve the workers' posture and reduce workplace injuries. The new production process designed in FlexSim increases production volume by 24.075%. Thus, these two methods are potential methods to help small businesses analyze and manage production quality improvement in a short time and with a limited budget.