Manufacturing cell definition
/What is a Manufacturing Cell?
A manufacturing cell is a grouping of machines on the production floor. This grouping is designed to promote high levels of product quality by having a few people handle several processing steps within a compressed area. This arrangement can save a substantial amount of floor space, and minimizes the transport of goods within a facility. Manufacturing cells are a central component of the lean manufacturing environment, and are especially useful for the processing of small batches, and situations in which the process flow needs to be reconfigured on short notice.
Disadvantages of Manufacturing Cells
While manufacturing cells can increase efficiency and flexibility in production, there are several disadvantages associated with their use, which are as follows:
High setup cost. Setting up manufacturing cells often requires a significant initial investment in both machinery and facility layout changes. Also, specialized equipment and tools may need to be purchased for each cell, and this can be costly, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Limited flexibility. Manufacturing cells are typically optimized for specific products or components, so they can lack flexibility when product designs or production demands change. Adjusting cells to accommodate different products often requires time-consuming and costly reconfiguration, which can be a disadvantage in industries with frequently changing customer demands.
Underutilization of equipment. Since manufacturing cells are designed for specific tasks or products, the equipment within a cell may not be used at full capacity if demand for the specific product is low. This underutilization can lead to increased per-unit costs and lower overall equipment effectiveness.
Increased manufacturing cell coordination required. Coordinating the workflow between different cells can be challenging, especially if one cell is producing at a slower pace, which can create bottlenecks in production.
Increased training requirements. Workers in manufacturing cells need to be versatile and highly skilled, as they may perform a range of tasks, including quality checks and minor maintenance. Training workers to operate across multiple machines within a cell can be time-consuming and costly, and it can be challenging to find workers with the required skill set.
Reduced scalability. Manufacturing cells are often not well-suited for large-scale production because their layout and processes are customized for efficiency in smaller batch sizes or product families. For high-volume production, a traditional assembly line may be more efficient, as manufacturing cells may lack the capacity and speed required for large-scale operations.
In summary, while manufacturing cells can bring numerous benefits in terms of efficiency and flexibility, they also come with drawbacks that may impact scalability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility, particularly in high-volume or rapidly changing production environments.