A work cell is a strategic arrangement of resources in a business environment. This concept aims to organize and improve process flow, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and eliminate wastage.
The foundation of work cells lies in lean manufacturing, which emphasizes value creation for the end customer and reduction of wastage. Work cells, also known as workcells, are commonly found in manufacturing and office environments.
Key Takeaways:
– A work cell is a term used to describe the logical and strategic arrangement of resources in a business environment, including people, machinery, and other equipment.
– Work cells are based on lean manufacturing, focusing on value creation for the end customer and the reduction of wastage.
– In office or administrative contexts, work cells may facilitate better communication flow and more efficient use of shared resources.
Understanding Work Cells:
A work cell is generally set up to complete a specific activity, predominantly in the manufacturing industry. It involves the grouping of machines, people, and other equipment used in the manufacturing production process. These cells are often implemented to reduce production costs and increase productivity. Many companies also significantly reduce error rates by implementing work cells.
In a manufacturing facility, machines involved in the production process are arranged to allow goods to move smoothly and seamlessly from one stage to the next. This is only possible if the machines are grouped in work cells that facilitate the logical progression of the goods being produced—from raw materials at one end to finished products at the other.
Work cells may also be found in office or administrative departments. In this context, they may facilitate better communication flow and more efficient use of shared resources.
Cellular Manufacturing:
Cellular manufacturing is a subsection of just-in-time manufacturing and lean manufacturing, encompassing group technology. The goal is to produce a wide variety of similar products quickly while generating minimal waste.
Cellular manufacturing involves the use of multiple cells in an assembly line fashion. A cell is created by consolidating the processes required to create a specific output, such as a part or a set of instructions. These cells reduce extraneous steps in the creation process, facilitate quick identification of problems, and encourage communication among employees to resolve issues promptly.
Example of a Work Cell:
Consider a firm that assembles air-handling products and faces high inventories and erratic delivery. Originally, the firm assembled units on a traditional production line.
Long setups and logistics required long production runs. It was often found that the company had to pull products from finished goods and rebuild them for custom orders.
Using a lean methodology, the company assembled cells. These cells included twelve small (one to three-person) assembly work cells that were always set up and ready. Now, people work in different cells each day and assemble products per customer orders. As a result, finished goods inventory dropped by 96%, lead-time was 24 hours, and productivity improved by as much as 30%.
