The Quantum Leap: Next Generation
Documenting the forces shaping today's demand-driven markets, this comprehensive desk reference provides a proven mathematically based roadmap for implementing Demand Flow Technology (DFT).
TABLE OF CONTENTS The Quantum Leap: Next Generation
Chapter 7: Group Technology and Machine Cells
Group technology is a technique in which dissimilar machines are grouped into single cells to produce families of similar products. The products produced in these cells use various machines or operations, but each product may require slightly more or less work time per machine or operation within the cell. Group technology organizes people and machines into cells to produce lower quantities of parts with reduced setups, reduced or eliminated queues, and reduced throughput times. Group technology also provides the opportunity to use flexible operators for multiple machines, facilitating such efficiencies as an operator performing setup work on one machine while another machine is still running. For example, one to five operators can run a machine cell of five different machines, depending on the machine run time.
Machine Cells Provide Flexibility
In the most basic configuration of scheduled manufacturing, machines are grouped into machine work centers according to function. Each of the similar individual machines within the functional work center is called a workstation. Moving from functional work center to functional work center creates products. For example, a part that requires machine stamping, grinding, and drilling starts off in the first work center performing the first operation, which is stamping.
All parts are stamped, and when the entire lot is stamped, that lot is sent over to the grinding work center. All parts are then ground in the grinding work center and then transferred into the third work center for drilling. Some scheduled manufacturers have adopted the group-technology approach of creating...
Copyright JCIT International 2005 under license agreement with Books24x7
