3.2.1- Manufacturing Systems

Page 1

Advanced Manufacturing

Describes the significant impact that computers have on manufacturing. This includes quick response, concurrent and flexible manufacturing.

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Quick Response Manufacturing

This is moving from batch to flow production allowing you to respond better to changes in customer demand. This includes total quality management, just in time ordering and manufacturing cells.

Pros and Cons:

✓ Reduces cost due to minimising waste and increasing responsibilities

✓ Reduce storage costs as produced in small batches

✓ May increase market share as quick response is attractive to new clients

X Increased reliance on suppliers

X Takes time to implement change

X Large variations in demand may mean that you struggle to react to production volumes

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Concurrent Manufacturing

This is where different parts of the production process are done simultaneously. They use the "House of Quality" matrix to turn customer needs into targets. This is communicating between all departments.

Pros:

✓ Reduces lead time

✓ Improves product quality

✓ Improves customer satisfaction

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Flexible Manufacturing

This is where all the machines are linked to a materials handling system to create an integrated system. There are flexible resources to respond quickly to changes in demand. It can produce more than one type of product at once.

Machine flexibility is the system's ability to add new products or change operations e.g. making a 4 and 6 cylinder engine at the same time.

Routing flexibility is the ability to use several machines at once.

Pros:

✓ Reduces lead time

✓ Increases productivity

✓ Reduces labour costs due to automation

✓ Improves quality as there are no human errors