3.1 Manufacturing Processes
- general principles that helps selecting / implementing a manufacturing process 1:
1) choose right equipment / people / facilities / physical layouts / information systems / ...
2) different manufacturing processes have different strengths / weaknesses
3) manufacture of an item might require different types of m.p.'s
i) physical requirements for the product?
ii) similarities to other products the company makes
iii) production volumes?
iv) customization? (yes / no / where?)
- customers demand smaller quantities / more frequent shippings / shorter lead times / lower prices
- flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs): highly automated batch processes, reducing the costs of
making groups of similar products
Pr o d u c t i o n L i n e s a n d C o n t i n u o u s F l o w M a n u f a c t u r i n g
- production line: used to produce a narrow range of standard items with identical designs ( g Figure 1)
- product-based layout: resources arranged sequentially according to the required steps
- cycle time of the line: time between completions of successive units
- two disadvantages: high volumes required to justify investments; inflexible
- continuous flow processes: similar to production line; main difference: form of the product cannot be
broken into discrete units 2; highly technical nature ( g Figure 2)
Figure 1: production line
Figure 2: continuous
flow processes
Figure 3: Jop Shop
Processes
1 in the following: abbreviation m.p. will be used
2 e.g.: chemicals, food, yarns,...
- 23 - Jannis Mertens
- general principles that helps selecting / implementing a manufacturing process 1:
1) choose right equipment / people / facilities / physical layouts / information systems / ...
2) different manufacturing processes have different strengths / weaknesses
3) manufacture of an item might require different types of m.p.'s
i) physical requirements for the product?
ii) similarities to other products the company makes
iii) production volumes?
iv) customization? (yes / no / where?)
- customers demand smaller quantities / more frequent shippings / shorter lead times / lower prices
- flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs): highly automated batch processes, reducing the costs of
making groups of similar products
Pr o d u c t i o n L i n e s a n d C o n t i n u o u s F l o w M a n u f a c t u r i n g
- production line: used to produce a narrow range of standard items with identical designs ( g Figure 1)
- product-based layout: resources arranged sequentially according to the required steps
- cycle time of the line: time between completions of successive units
- two disadvantages: high volumes required to justify investments; inflexible
- continuous flow processes: similar to production line; main difference: form of the product cannot be
broken into discrete units 2; highly technical nature ( g Figure 2)
Figure 1: production line
Figure 2: continuous
flow processes
Figure 3: Jop Shop
Processes
1 in the following: abbreviation m.p. will be used
2 e.g.: chemicals, food, yarns,...
- 23 - Jannis Mertens
