The Newsletter of Lean Manufacturing Strategy
Learning Curves in Cellular Manufacturing |
Predicting and Sustaining Improvement |
|
Kansas City |
25 APR 2014 |
Issue# 88 |
The exact mechanisms that create improvement in an individual workcell are difficult to identify in advance. This makes it problematic to justify Cellular Manufacturing to skeptical managers.
Our new article shows how Learning Curves can predict, albeit in a general way, these improvements. It includes a real-life example from our past consulting work as well as a description of the types of mechanisms that often operate to bring about improvements.
From a Socio-Technical perspective, these sources are both technical improvements from equipment, layout and processes and social improvements involving human skills and interactions. Both are important and they mutually reinforce.
Learning curves are the fundamental basis for Continuous Improvement. And, "learning" does not have to end as a product matures. Over time, like compound interest, the cumulative effect is highly is significant.
At Strategos, we have been designing successful workcells for more than 25 years. This experience has resulted in one of the first algorithms for workcell design and has been used by countless manufacturers. We would be pleased to assist with your Cellular Manufacturing and Lean plant layout. Please feel free to call me at the number below to explore the possibilities.
Best Regards,
Quarterman Lee
816-931-1414
