Manufacturers face many challenges in their business from overseas competitors to raw material increases. But one of the biggest challenges deals with space – the right facility space and design to fit your unique assembly line. Wasted space is one of the seven wastes in the Toyota Production System for lean manufacturing. Not having sufficient space for your assembly line can lead to a significant reduction in line throughput, slower production, and even accidents.
The Role of Assembly Lines and Lineside Storage in Manufacturing
Assembly lines are an essential component of the manufacturing process, moving components down a production line from operation to operation until the product is completed. This systematic approach not only streamlines production but also enhances efficiency and consistency. Each station on an assembly line has a specific task, and as the product moves from one station to the next, it gradually becomes more complete.
Lineside storage plays a crucial role in supporting assembly lines. It refers to the storage solutions that are positioned directly adjacent to the assembly line, making parts and materials readily accessible to workers. Efficient lineside storage minimizes the time workers spend fetching materials, thus reducing downtime and increasing productivity. It ensures that the necessary components are always within arm's reach, maintaining a smooth and continuous workflow.
To save space in your facility, you need to shrink your assembly line — and UNEX FlowCell flow racks can help you do it.
Benefits of FlowCell in Lineside Storage
FlowCell is the ideal lineside storage solution, allowing users to consolidate storage on the line and reduce the footprint of lineside storage. If you are looking to reduce inventory and space, while boosting productivity, UNEX FlowCell flow racks are a great start. They provide substantial benefits to your assembly environment, including:
1. Housekeeping
5S is a housekeeping method for the shop floor consisting of 5 rules that eliminate waste and foster a lean environment. The five S’s are organization, orderliness, cleanliness, standardization, and discipline. FlowCell can help you have a place for everything and everything is in its place, drastically reducing the clutter that can slow down the assembly line activity and eat up valuable workspace.
2. Compact Plant Layout
FlowCell modular flow racks are systems that can be specifically designed for a manufacturer's unique needs. This allows FlowCell to be configured to fit smaller footprints than other material handling solutions typically present on an assembly line. A minimized footprint means storing more parts and product lineside while increasing the available space on the line for value-added activities.
Learn how BraunAbility used FlowCell to fit more product in their existing footprint. Download the Case Study.
3. Streamline Movements
FlowCell streamlines movements of product through the assembly process by ensuring the fewest number of non-value added activities take place on the assembly line. Identifying and eliminating (or at least reducing) non-value-added activity is the key to streamlining a manufacturing process on the assembly line.
As product life cycles shrink and you offer a widening range of products, the need for flexibility and space consolidation in your assembly line flow process is even greater than ever.
4. Improved Ergonomics
FlowCell flow racks present parts at an ergonomic height and angle, minimizing reaching and bending, which reduces worker injuries and fatigue. This enhances productivity and worker satisfaction, contributing to a safer and more efficient work environment.
5. Increased Flexibility and Reconfigurability
The modular design of FlowCell flow racks allows for easy adjustments to the layout to meet changing production needs without extensive downtime or costs. This adaptability supports lean manufacturing by enabling quick reconfiguration of storage solutions as needed.
6. Enhanced Inventory Control
FlowCell flow racks support FIFO inventory rotation, ensuring older stock is used first and reducing waste due to outdated materials. This helps maintain inventory freshness and reduces costs associated with expired products.
7. Higher Capacity and Durability
Built from heavy-duty steel, FlowCell flow racks can support significant weight, making them ideal for storing heavy components. Their robust construction ensures longevity and reliability, even in demanding industrial environments.
Optimize Your Lineside Processes with UNEX
The benefits of FlowCell ensure you are better able to control your inventories, decrease the footprint of your assembly line, and produce higher quality products in less time and at lower costs. UNEX FlowCell provides this flexibility while eliminating wasted space and wasteful activities that choke up the assembly line.
To learn more about the assembly line benefits a FlowCell can bring to your manufacturing operation, contact us today.
