Slashes Lead Times & Increases Productivity

What is Cellular Flow Manufacturing?
When processes are balanced, the product flows continuously and customer demands are easily met. Cellular Flow Manufacturing is the linking of manual and machine operations into the most efficient combination of resources to maximize value-added content while minimizing waste. The most efficient combination applies the concept of process balancing. Only in a balanced process will the product continually flow. As a result, parts movement is minimized, wait time between operations is reduced, inventory is reduced, and productivity increases.

Benefits

• Maximize value added by each worker
• Minimize part movement and inventory
• Reduce lead times, cycle times, and waiting times
• Increase productivity and quality performance
• Free floor space
• Improve efficiency of cross-training workers
• Increase communication
• Increase flexibility

Successes
Through the implementation of a U-shaped system design, a precision machine shop increased production flow by 50%, increased capacity by 15%, developed a new product line, and maintained the workforce at full capacity.

Manufacturing cells were created in a small metal machining firm that resulted in a 65% reduction in WIP, improved production quality, and reduced material transport time from 45 minutes to just 5 minutes.

A cut and sew operation implemented a work cell that lead to increased product volume, a reduction in finished goods inventory shelving from 800 to 32 linear feet, and a 32% increase in profits.

To learn more, call us at 800.MEP.4MFG (800.637.4634) or304.293.3800, or contact us.