When implementing a lean manufacturing you must first consider how cell materials, people and information flow through the system. Optimizing these flows will help you determine how to design a lean cell.
- Becoming lean means more than putting together a few U-shaped work cells. It’s a philosophy that drives you to reduce waste. To implement lean, you need to consider how materials, people and information flow through your manufacturing process.
- The key to optimizing material and people flow is to insist on one-piece flow: Making one complete part at a time or passing completed work to the next operator only when that operator is ready for it.
- Parts should be provided from the rear of the cell via parts “stores” with bins on wheeled racks. This simplifies replenishment and any line changeovers.
- Finally, one glance into a well-designed work cell will tell you everything: which product is being produced, whether line-side parts stores are low, and whether any trouble spots exist.
- Good visual indicators make for good information flow and continuous process improvement. Even the best cells can be improved.
- Once you start implementing the “lean principle” you’ll find that you can apply it just about anywhere.
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