Illustration of concepts around the Manufacturing Cells

1. Rafael Cortés 2013
Manufacturing Cell

2. Product Families by Process:
 Group Technology is a manufacturing technique in which the
parts having similarities in geometry and/or manufacturing
process are grouped together.
 The group of similar parts is known as part family and the
group of machineries used to process an individual part family
is known as machine cell. It is not necessary for each part of a
part family to be processed by every machine of
corresponding machine cell. This type of manufacturing in
which a part family is produced by a machine cell is known as
cellular manufacturing.

3. Functional Production System:
 ” In Functional Manufacturing similar machines are placed
close together (e.g. lathes, millers, drills etc.). Functional layouts
are more robust to machine breakdowns, have common jigs
and fixtures in the same area and supports high levels of
demarcation. “

4. Functional Production System:
Cutting
Deparment
(5 Machines)
Welding
Deparment
(5 Machines)
Sandblasting
Deparment
(2 Machines)
Assembley
Deparment
(4 Workstations)
Painting
Department
(2 Workstations)
Finishing
Department
(4 Workstations)
 Example :

5. Manufacturing Cell System:
 “ Is based upon the principles of Group Technology. In Cellular
Manufacturing systems machines are grouped together
according to the families of parts produced. The major
advantage is that material flow is significantly improved, which
reduces the distance travelled by materials, inventory and
cumulative lead times. Cellular Manufacturing employs setup
reduction and gives the workers the tools to
bemultiprocess, operating multiple
processes, and multifunctional, owning quality
improvements, waste reduction, and simple machine
maintenance. This allows workers to easily self-balance within
the cell while reducing lead times, resulting in the ability for
companies to manufacture high quality products at a low
cost, on time, and in a flexible way. “

6. Sandblasting
Station
Manufacturing Cell System:
v v
v
v v
Cutting
Machine
Welding
Machine
Assembly
Workstation
Painting
Station
Finishing
Station
Finished
Products
Sandblasting
Station
v v
v
v v
Cutting
Machine
Welding
Machine
Assembly A
Workstation
Painting
Station
Assembly B
Station
Finished
Products
Manufacturing Cell
for Product Family
1010
Manufacturing Cell
for Product Family
2010

7. Assembly Cell its “ feeders “ :
 An example of an Assembly Cell (pink) and its feeders ( all based on the
manufacturing cell concept ) :
Workstation 01 Workstation 02
Workstation
04
Workstation 03
Workstation 07 Workstation 06 Workstation 05
Manuf. Cell
Sub assembly 110 Kanban
Manuf. Cell
Sub assembly 610
Kanban
Manuf. Cell
Sub assembly 310 Kanban