| Cellular manufacturing has gained widespread | | | | |
| acceptance in the manufacturing industry. The | | | | Large batches of product will also be sitting |
| concept of breaking the plant floor into | | | | at the parts washer, waiting for their time |
| smaller, more manageable sub units has | | | | in the cleaning system. Parts that sit for |
| offered production supervisors the | | | | long periods of time are more difficult to |
| opportunity to be more flexible in scheduling | | | | wash than those that enter the washer |
| and more disciplined in performing | | | | immediately after they have been formed or |
| preventative maintenance tasks. These smaller | | | | ground or bored. It is much more difficult |
| manufacturing units are able to accommodate a | | | | to break the surface tension of coolant, |
| wide range of product styles while remaining | | | | lubricant or oil when it has had time to dry |
| specialized in similar material. They can | | | | on the part rather than that which has been |
| also enable the manufacturer to produce | | | | recently applied. Idle time will result in a |
| prototype products, short run parts and make | | | | decrease of quality cleaning. |
| minor engineering design changes without | | | | |
| needing to affect other product lines. | | | | A central parts washer is also ill equipped |
| Neither do these cellular units halt or slow | | | | to efficiently perform its task. By using one |
| production of one unit to increase that of | | | | washer, all parts are forced through the same |
| another. | | | | system. This is not as effective as sending |
| | | | the parts through a custom designed system to |
| While the cellular system increases | | | | clean one specific style of parts. |
| productivity, it can still be slowed if | | | | |
| cellular washing stations are not | | | | Finally, time is wasted moving parts to and |
| incorporated into the scheme. A central parts | | | | from manufacturing cells to the central parts |
| washer serving all cells is inefficient and a | | | | washer. This unnecessary movement will slow |
| waste of company resources. If a plant | | | | production rates and add unnecessary cost to |
| employs a central washer, they can expect to | | | | the project. |
| see several downsides. | | | | |
| | | | The answer to this problem is the |
| First, there will be a glut of heavy, | | | | incorporation of small part specific washers |
| dangerous forklift traffic as parts are | | | | at each of the manufacturing cells. |
| transported to and from the washer. These | | | | Installation of these washers will combat the |
| loads not only will take up floor space, but | | | | wastefulness of the central system as well as |
| will also require fork truck drivers who will | | | | result in higher quality parts. |
| be a monetary drain on the company since fork | | | | |
| drivers only provide transport to and from | | | | The cells will be able to wash each part |
| the parts washer and the cost for their | | | | immediately after production. By doing this |
| service adds nothing to the value of the | | | | the manufacturer eliminates wait time and |
| product. | | | | prevents lubricant from drying and becoming |
| | | | very difficult to remove. These units also |
| Further, the parts will be transported in | | | | significantly cut back on forklift traffic, |
| large bins that are contaminated with soil. | | | | making the plant floor a safer, less |
| Dirty parts are dumped into these bins. The | | | | congested area as well as reducing labor |
| dirt on the parts contaminates the bins. | | | | costs. |
| Clean parts are transported in these dirty | | | | |
| bins. This renders the washing process | | | | Thus, the inventory of unwashed parts is |
| pointless since the clean parts are soiled | | | | eliminated, parts are cleaned more easily and |
| once again as soon as they are exposed to the | | | | parts are cleaned more effectively for lower |
| interior of a dirty transporting bin. | | | | cost per piece. |