The life cycle of manufacturing cells
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 1 December 1997
Abstract
When a functional layout is converted to a cellular layout, the cell design is generally based on a static picture of production volume and part mix, but manufacturing environments face ongoing changes in these parameters. It is expected that, eventually, changes in production volume and part mix will cause a deterioration in cell performance to the point that a cell’s machine layout must be redesigned, marking the end of the cell’s life cycle. Tests the existence of cell life cycles and performance deterioration attributed to changes in production volume and part mix through an exploratory field study which was undertaken at 15 firms using cellular manufacturing. Finds that cell life cycles did exist, but usually either in anticipation of declining cell performance ‐ rather than in reaction to it ‐ or in anticipation of potential improvements in cell performance due to changes in the marketplace.
Keywords
Citation
Marsh, R.F., Meredith, J.R. and McCutcheon, D.M. (1997), "The life cycle of manufacturing cells", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 17 No. 12, pp. 1167-1182. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443579710367607
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 1997, MCB UP Limited