Implementación de un sistema de mejora en el proceso de cultivo de spirulina mediante la metodología seis sigma, en la planta industrial AndesSpirulina C.A.

Abstract

Decreased productivity in the production process (cultivation), in the Company AndesSpirulina C.A., was influence by the high variability of the physical and chemical. With the aim of improving average productivity in the process in at least 15%, was applied six sigma methodology. This allowed to define the costs of the production system by drawing flowcharts and equipment, indicating that the scaling processes and continuous production, had the highest cost of the entire system. Subsequently it was possible to measure all the physical and chemical parameters involved in the productivity and were established variables, times and tasks for implementing the measurement plan. This allowed to analyze the change of raw materials, through optimization of the culture medium, improve the productivity of the production process and assess the economic viability of the project. By process control and implementation of the measurement plan, optimized culture medium and new source of CO2, reached an average productivity was 4,16 g.m2/d improving the production process by 66%. In addition, it was to reduce the cost of culture medium 13,76 to 6,77 USD/m3 and the unit cost of production (USD/kg) to 58.3% which represents a monthly savings to the Company of 16 000 USD.