In today’s manufacturing environment, assembly work is routinely characterized by short production cycles and constantly diminishing batch sizes, while the variety of product types and models continues to increase. Constant pressure to shorten lead times adds to these demands and makes the mix truly challenging, even for the most innovative manufacturers. The ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing customer demands requires the use of manufacturing systems that can be re-configured and expanded on the fly, and which can accommodate advances in assembly techniques without making any initial manufacturing investments obsolete. Lean manufacturing, an approach that depends greatly on flexibility and workplace organization, is an excellent starting point for companies wanting to take a fresh look at their current manufacturing methods.
Lean techniques are also worthy of investigation because they eliminate large capital outlays for dedicated machinery until automation becomes absolutely necessary. Indeed, the concept of lean manufacturing represents a significant departure from the automated factory so popular in recent years. The “less is better” approach to manufacturing leads to a vastly simplified, remarkably uncluttered environment that is carefully tuned to the manufacturer’s demands. Products are manufactured one at a time in response to the customer’s requirements rather than batch manufactured for stock. The goal is to produce only the quantity required and no more. And since limited numbers of parts are produced, it may be necessary to change processes during the day–to accommodate different parts and to make maximum use of personnel, equipment and floor space. The flexibility inherent in manual assembly cells is therefore preferable to automated assembly. This requirement for maximum flexibility creates unique demands on the lean work cell and the components that make up the lean work cell.