Assembly station design: a quantitative comparison of the effects of kitting and continuous supply
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
ISSN: 1741-038X
Article publication date: 9 March 2012
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine how kitting, compared to continuous supply, affects the time spent by the assembler fetching parts in manual assembly.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on an experimental setup at the Saab Automobile assembly plant in Trollhättan, Sweden. Experienced assemblers were studied as they performed the same assembly operations in ten different configurations. Each configuration consisted of a different arrangement in terms of how parts were presented. The use of kits to present parts was compared to parts presentation through continuous supply, where each part number was presented in a separate container.
Findings
The time for fetching parts is significantly shorter when parts are presented through kitting instead of through continuous supply. Furthermore, the shorter fetching time is not just related to a shorter distance between assembly object and parts presentation, which can often be achieved through kitting. The reduction of time spent searching for parts is also considerable.
Practical implications
The results of the paper provide valuable input in the design of assembly and materials supply systems, as they enable a better understanding of the relative performance of the materials feeding principles of kitting and continuous supply.
Originality/value
Previous studies of kitting and its impact on assembly are mostly conceptual or qualitative, whereas quantitative studies are scarce. The current paper provides a substantial contribution by quantifying the effects that kitting, compared to continuous supply, has on the time spent fetching parts.
Keywords
Citation
Hanson, R., Medbo, L. and Medbo, P. (2012), "Assembly station design: a quantitative comparison of the effects of kitting and continuous supply", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 315-327. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410381211217399
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited