Cellular Manufacturing

5 Views      
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Cellular manufacturing is an important constituent of lean manufacturing. It refers to an efficient manufacturing system that utilizes the concept of cells to process material and inventory from start to finish in a single process flow. As a result, the final product does not have to wait for the completion of a batch to move to the next stage of production. The use of workcells in this process has given this particular manufacturing concept its name.

A workcell comprises highly skilled and experienced workers and consists of all the necessary equipment and technology required to produce a set of components, a manufacturing process, or even an entire product. A specialist uses CAD/CAM technology to group similar parts together and assigns them to a cell. As a result, an ideal group of families is set up. A skilled set of engineers, technicians, and workers then initiates production using a specific set of tools, equipment, and machines.

While a single-process workflow groups different types of equipment in the same production area to facilitate faster production, the "batch and queue" method places similar types of equipment in the same production area, where material and inventory are queued up for batch production.



The batch and queue method can be prone to production and transportation delays. However, a single-process workflow transfers the product from one piece of equipment to another, moving it from one state of completion to the next and thus avoiding delays in the production line.

The number of preferred workcells depends upon the product. Consequently, a company in the manufacturing industry that has a diversified portfolio may need many workcells to achieve a single-process flow. Workcells are faster and more efficient than the batch and queue production system, provided there is enough product volume within the manufacturing process.

Cellular manufacturing ensures that every workcell is capable of completing the product "just in time" (JIT) for the next cell to take over. In the batch and queue method, a batch can get stuck somewhere in the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the manufacturing process can get slowed down due to non-moving inventory on account of manufacturing delays. The JIT system used in cellular manufacturing avoids these pitfalls since skilled personnel identify defects and prevent defective components or products from moving forward.

Yet another practice that cellular manufacturing makes use of is the "pull" system. This concept requires a workcell to pull in what is required from the preceding cell. This system ensures the manufacture of only those components that the product requires. Production does not exceed the number of products the customer requires.

Workcells are optimized for speed. Each cell handles an optimum volume of material. This is extremely advantageous because it saves time and cost as well as reduces inventory.

It's commonly believed that cells should be square or rectangular, but they really don't have a particular shape. A cell can be straight, U-shaped, circular, or any other shape depending on how it will be used.

The purpose of implementing cellular manufacturing is to reduce waste and provide maximum resource efficiency. Manufacturing the entire product along a single product line by minimizing processes and eliminating overproduction is the essential aim of cellular manufacturing.
On the net:ellular Manufacturing (CM)
www.siliconfareast.com/cellular-manufacturing.htm

Cellular Manufacturing
rockfordconsulting.com/cell.htm

Inscape: Cellular Manufacturing
www.inscapesolutions.com/cell.html
If this article has helped you in some way, will you say thanks by sharing it through a share, like, a link, or an email to someone you think would appreciate the reference.

Popular tags:

 batch  engineers  manufacturing processes  shipping  manufacturing  degrees  projects  CAD/CAM  produces  customers


I was facing the seven-year itch at my previous workplace. Thanks to EmploymentCrossing, I'm committed to a fantastic sales job in downtown Manhattan.
Joseph L - New York, NY
  • All we do is research jobs.
  • Our team of researchers, programmers, and analysts find you jobs from over 1,000 career pages and other sources
  • Our members get more interviews and jobs than people who use "public job boards"
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.
ManufacturingCrossing - #1 Job Aggregation and Private Job-Opening Research Service — The Most Quality Jobs Anywhere
ManufacturingCrossing is the first job consolidation service in the employment industry to seek to include every job that exists in the world.
Copyright © 2024 ManufacturingCrossing - All rights reserved. 168