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Article
Publication date: 2 February 2015

Robin Hanson, Lars Medbo and Mats I. Johansson

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether man-hour efficiency of picking is affected by the use of batch preparation, compared to preparation of one kit at a time. This…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether man-hour efficiency of picking is affected by the use of batch preparation, compared to preparation of one kit at a time. This paper focuses on small kit preparation areas.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on two experiments that were performed at a vehicle assembly plant and then analysed quantitatively.

Findings

The results provide a strong indication of the advantages associated with batch preparation, in terms of man-hour efficiency.

Practical implications

The fact that the effects identified during the experiments are substantial, over 20 per cent reduction of average time per picked component in Experiment 1 and 7 per cent in Experiment 2, indicates that the option of batch picking holds potentials for large cost reduction and should be considered when kit preparation systems are designed.

Originality/value

Limited research has dealt with the design of kit preparation systems, thus leaving considerable knowledge gaps. Previous research dealing with batch picking focuses on other environments than kitting and on large picking areas where batching can reduce walking distances. In contrast, the current paper focuses on small picking areas, which are common in industrial kitting applications. This paper provides a considerable contribution by demonstrating improvements in time efficiency that batch preparation can offer to small picking areas in addition to larger areas. The discussion also provides a basis for future research, which could focus on aspects other than time efficiency, such as the quality of kit preparation, and variables that might moderate the effect of batching.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 1999

Howard Falk

Considers the different methods used to connect computers into networks. Discusses speeds, costs and sharing issues. Briefly profiles kits using Ethernet cables, USB cables…

Abstract

Considers the different methods used to connect computers into networks. Discusses speeds, costs and sharing issues. Briefly profiles kits using Ethernet cables, USB cables, telephone wires, electric wires and wireless kits including methods of operation, size and basic capabilities.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 July 2015

Antonio C. Caputo, Pacifico M. Pelagagge and Paolo Salini

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an optimization model allowing the choice of parts feeding policy to assembly lines in order to minimize total cost.

1325

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an optimization model allowing the choice of parts feeding policy to assembly lines in order to minimize total cost.

Design/methodology/approach

An integer linear programming mathematical model is developed to assign the optimal material feeding policy to each part type. The model allows choice between kitting, line stocking and just in time delivery policies.

Findings

The choice of assembly lines feeding policy is not trivial and requires a thorough economic comparison of alternatives. It is found that a proper mix of parts feeding policies may be better that adopting a single material delivery policy for all parts.

Research limitations/implications

The model is aimed at single-model assembly lines operating in a deterministic environment, but can be extended to the multi-model line case. While relevant quantitative cost drivers are included, some context-related qualitative factors are not included yet. The model assumes that information about product structure and part requirements are known and that a preliminary design of the assembly system has been carried out.

Practical implications

Production managers are given a quantitative-decision tool to determine the optimal mix of material supply policies at an early decision stage.

Originality/value

Respect previous simplified literature models, this approach allows to quantify a number of additional factors which are critical for successful implementation of cost-effective parts feeding systems, allowing comparison of alternative policies on a consistent basis.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 115 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2011

Antonio C. Caputo and Pacifico M. Pelagagge

Assembly systems require uninterrupted components' availability to feed workstations. This paper aims to propose a methodology to help managers in evaluating and selecting the…

2957

Abstract

Purpose

Assembly systems require uninterrupted components' availability to feed workstations. This paper aims to propose a methodology to help managers in evaluating and selecting the most suitable policy for materials delivery to the shop floor. The analysis focuses on three basic policies, namely kitting, just in time kanban‐based continuous supply and line storage, even including class‐based hybrid policies.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive models are developed to design components' delivery systems and to compute their performances. Empirical criteria are utilized to associate specific policies to components classes in order to implement customized hybrid line feeding policies. A case study is then included to exemplify the method application and to show its capabilities as a decision making tool.

Findings

Hybrid feeding policies may be preferable to a single feeding policy common to all components. This is shown in a representative case study. However, in general there is a priori superior method and only a comparison of alternative feeding policies based on objective performance measures can determine the best approach in specific industrial applications.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology is aimed at preliminary sizing and selection of alternative line feeding systems in deterministic environments. It is not intended for detailed performance analysis of assembly systems.

Practical implications

Production managers are given quantitative decision tools to properly select the components' delivery method at an early decision stage. This allows trade‐offs between alternatives to be explored in order to deploy customized feeding policies differentiated on components basis to better fit specific company requirements.

Originality/value

The paper extends previous descriptive models for line feeding systems and includes the possibility of hybrid policies.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 111 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 February 2015

Veronique Limère, Hendrik Van Landeghem and Marc Goetschalckx

The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision model to choose between kitting and line stocking at the level of single parts, while taking into account the variable operator…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision model to choose between kitting and line stocking at the level of single parts, while taking into account the variable operator walking distances. Different ways of feeding assembly lines, such as kitting and line stocking not only have an impact on in-plant logistics flows but also determine the amount of stock that is available at the line. This, in turn, has an impact on operator walking distances during assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed integer linear programming model is developed for the assignment of parts to one of both methods, and to be able to extensively test the model, an algorithm is created for the construction of representative datasets.

Findings

Parts are often kitted because of a space constraint at the line, but even without a space constraint, the shorter walking distances might give preference to kitting. An analysis is presented that demonstrates how specific part characteristics influence the chances of a part being kitted.

Research limitations/implications

Our research model can be extended to include, e.g., the study of alternative in-plant logistic designs and the outsourcing of kitting to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) or to the suppliers.

Practical implications

The objective assignment model and the insights obtained from it are valuable for logistics and production engineers that otherwise have to rely solely on intuition. In situations with thousands of components, intuition mostly falls far short.

Originality/value

First, existing models do not consider variable walking distances, which are shown to have a crucial impact on the decision. Second, the data instances created allow for a systematic comparison of future research in the field.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 July 2017

Antonio Casimiro Caputo, Pacifico Marcello Pelagagge and Paolo Salini

The purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative model to assess probability of errors and errors correction costs in parts feeding systems for assembly lines.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative model to assess probability of errors and errors correction costs in parts feeding systems for assembly lines.

Design/methodology/approach

Event trees are adopted to model errors in the picking-handling-delivery-utilization of materials containers from the warehouse to assembly stations. Error probabilities and quality costs functions are developed to compare alternative feeding policies including kitting, line stocking and just-in-time delivery. A numerical case study is included.

Findings

This paper confirms with quantitative evidence the economic relevance of logistic errors (LEs) in parts feeding processes, a problem neglected in the existing literature. It also points out the most frequent or relevant error types and identifies specific corrective measures.

Research limitations/implications

While the model is general purpose, conclusions are specific to each applicative case and are not generalizable, and some modifications may be required to adapt it to specific industrial cases. When no experimental data are available, human error analysis should be used to estimate event probabilities based on underlying modes and causes of human error.

Practical implications

Production managers are given a quantitative decision tool to assess errors probability and errors correction costs in assembly lines parts feeding systems. This allows better comparing of alternative parts feeding policies and identifying corrective measures.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to develop quantitative models for estimating LEs and related quality cost, allowing a comparison between alternative parts feeding policies.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 117 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 February 2010

Ertugrul Cimen, Ayhan Tuglu, Mehmet Manyas, Sema Çelikbaş and Zeki Çelikbaş

The paper aims to describe a new national system for resource sharing and document supply in Turkey.

6690

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to describe a new national system for resource sharing and document supply in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a historical and descriptive approach.

Findings

KITS has been very successful in linking academic and other institutions in Turkey to an effective and efficient system of document supply. This is illustrated by figures provided on its expansion in the last two years.

Practical implications

The paper is useful for all librarians concerned with national document supply systems, especially in the developing world.

Originality/value

This is the first published review of the national system that is transforming document supply in Turkey, and it deals frankly with the obstacles that KITS faces, at the same time indicating the ways in which success has been achieved.

Details

Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 38 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-1615

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 February 2015

Huseyin Selcuk Kilic and Mehmet Bulent Durmusoglu

– The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on parts feeding policies and to provide the components of parts feeding systems via a classification structure.

1801

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on parts feeding policies and to provide the components of parts feeding systems via a classification structure.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper determines the scope and components of parts feeding systems via a classification structure under three main components such as the storage of parts, transport of parts and feeding policy. Afterward, it is focused on parts feeding policies and the related papers are reviewed and analyzed according to their feeding policy types, objectives, solution methodologies and the application types.

Findings

A classification structure showing the components and scope of parts feeding systems is provided. Parts feeding policies are handled in detail and feeding policy types, objectives, solution methodologies and application types in the existing studies are presented in this paper. However, the paper highlights the open research areas and advances for academics and presents applied solution methodologies and case studies for practitioners.

Originality/value

This paper reveals the scope of parts feeding systems by presenting a classification structure including three main components and related subcomponents and provides a comprehensive literature review on parts feeding policies.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2016

Zeid Kootbally

This paper aims to represent a capability model for industrial robot as they pertain to assembly tasks.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to represent a capability model for industrial robot as they pertain to assembly tasks.

Design/methodology/approach

The architecture of a real kit building application is provided to demonstrate how robot capabilities can be used to fully automate the planning of assembly tasks. Discussion on the planning infrastructure is done with the Planning Domain Definition Language (PDDL) for heterogeneous multi robot systems.

Findings

The paper describes PDDL domain and problem files that are used by a planner to generate a plan for kitting. Discussion on the plan shows that the best robot is selected to carry out assembly actions.

Originality/value

The author presents a robot capability model that is intended to be used for helping manufacturers to characterize the different capabilities their robots contribute to help the end user to select the appropriate robots for the appropriate tasks, selecting backup robots during robot’s failures to limit the deterioration of the system’s productivity and the products’ quality and limiting robots’ failures and increasing productivity by providing a tool to manufacturers that outputs a process plan that assigns the best robot to each task needed to accomplish the assembly.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 43 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 February 2022

Xi Yu Leung, Xingyu Wang, Jamie Alexander Levitt and Lu Lu

This study aims to explore an emerging phenomenon – gourmet meal kits delivered to out-of-towners from iconic local restaurants. This study explores the interplay of goal framing…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore an emerging phenomenon – gourmet meal kits delivered to out-of-towners from iconic local restaurants. This study explores the interplay of goal framing and basic needs and their effects on customer intentions. This study also examines the underlying mechanism of experience cocreation and the moderating effect of food involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a framework that combines the self-determination theory (SDT) and customer experience cocreation. Two online experimental studies involving 478 US consumers were conducted to examine the underlying mechanism of customers’ decision-making on purchasing gourmet meal kits (Study 1) and visiting destination restaurants after receiving the meal kit (Study 2).

Findings

Intrinsic goal-framing leads to stronger intentions to purchase gourmet meal kits and to visit destination restaurants that sell meal kits. In contrast, extrinsic goal-framing enhances the positive influence of perceived relatedness and competence on behavioral intentions. The effects of goal framing and basic needs on behavioral intentions are moderated by food involvement and mediated by experience cocreation to varying degrees.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to empirically examine an emerging business model – delivering restaurants’ food experiences to out-of-towners. The study also expands the application of the SDT by incorporating customer cocreation as the underlying mechanism.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 34 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

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