84 ◾ Lean Production Simplified, Third Edition
◾ Connected islands with full-work control
◾ Cells
Islands
Island processes are isolated from one another. Forklifts move piles of inven-
tory between islands. Often workers in each island build as fast as they can
regardless of actual demand.
Connected Islands
Conveyors or chutes connect islands. There is no mechanism to control the
amount of inventory on conveyors. Workers typically build as fast as they can.
Connected Islands with Full-Work Control
Conveyors or chutes connect islands. A visual device controls the amount of
inventory between processes. The upstream process stops producing when
the downstream process is full.
Cells
Machines are side by side. There is minimal inventory between machines ...