CHAPTER 13Assembly cells
An assembly cell is a special case of an assembly line, run by a single team of at most eight multifunction operators, with autonomous pacing. An assembly cell provides all the benefits of an assembly line, and adds those of being run by a cohesive team, which not only improvesjob satisfaction and morale, but also raises quality consciousness. Most cells are ‘U-shaped, with product units flowing around a long and narrow operator work area. Thispattern supports flexible staffing, and the number of operators can easily be adjusted up ordown with changes in demand.
Parts can be supplied to assembly cells directly through milk runsfrom the warehouse, orbya waterspider/team leaderfrom a supermarket, in small containers to ...
