CHAPTER 14Overall shape of assembly lines
Assembly lines that are larger than cells come in a variety of shapes, based on other considerations thanforcells, particularly parts supply. Ratherthan a mile-long straight line, most car assembly lines are laid out in a coiled snake pattern, with cars traveling back, andforth on segments underone eighth of a mile long. Thispattern supports two materials services areas on opposite sides, feedingparts into thefolds of the snake, so thateach linearfoot of supply routefeeds two linearfeetofline.
Straightlines live on in airplane assembly. After the experiment of B24 assembly in Willow Run during World Warll, moving assembly lines for large airplanes were abandoned infavorof assembly in bays, with conveyance ...
