Improving System With Mobile Machinery
Higher productivity is achieved by reducing the number of workers per pieces of equipment. By incorporating mobile machinery, it is possible to create a flexible
work cell. The initial investment that is required is accounted for by the benefits of moving toward the desirable
lean manufacturing system.
- It's hard to believe that machines such as press brakes and hardware setting equipment can move around on wheels or be moved by forklift and still function correctly. But I can tell you, from experience, that it is true and can be done.
- These unmovable machines might be presses, punching cells, lasers, or robotic press brakes. The machines that are moved quite easily may include standard, smaller press brakes (6 feet and less), hardware machines, and grainers, to name a few.
- In today's high-tech shops, an operator spends a large amount of production time watching punches, lasers, or whatever machine is running. He really works only when his specific machine needs a new blank or when a finished part needs to be removed.
- Another good reason for investing time, effort, and resources in mobilizing equipment is cellular manufacturing. When your smaller machines are mobile, it becomes relatively easy to group them together into a cell around a punch press or laser. In this mode, an elite group of employees can work together on shearing, punching, graining, forming, setting hardware, and working through problems as they arise-basically building the complete piece, excluding outside processes.
- An extension cord that is too long causes power losses from this resistance, so by the time the power gets to the hydraulic pumps and electric motors, you run the risk of prematurely burning up them and other equipment just from the power loss.
