Using optimization and lean principles to design work cells and make capital purchase decisions for hole drilling operations in turbine airfoil manufacturing

Classical manufacturing work cells have machines to perform each operation in the process, the number of each type of machine being chosen so that all machines would be equally busy. Although design of work cells for producing one product is straightforward, the design of a multi-product work cell is much more complex. Each product might require different machinery or require different processing times per operation, which complicates leveling the workload between machines. The decision of what type of machinery to purchase for a particular operation can be complex in itself when comparing a number of technologically different alternatives. Although the machines' operating characteristics might be well known, it is often difficult to understand how each technology will affect the overall production system. Any new work cell implementation is bound to cause friction within the organization. Change must be properly managed if it is to be done correctly. To implement any new structure for a work cell, both management and hourly employees must learn a new way of doing things. Often these new methods encounter significant resistance if not implemented in a way that takes into account their cultural impact.

Department dc:contributor.department

Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Neal, Thomas E. (Thomas Eugene)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Janice A. Klein and David H. Staelin.

• Sloan School of Management.
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
• Leaders for Manufacturing Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37939

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37939