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