Operating modes in manufacturing cells : an action research study

Abstract

This paper describes the operating modes adopted in manufacturing cells of an assembly controller’s heat boilers firm and its influence on the productivity. The paper also presents the difficulties that cells faces when it is formed free of care in selecting and recruiting adequate and motivated people to form the team for operating the cells. These careless and other factors discussed here causes lower productivity. One of the appointed advantages of the cells is the possibility of varying the number of operators when the demand varies. In spite of this, this advantage could be a disadvantage if the persons recruited are not prepared or motivated. This action research industrial study shows that the cells must be part of a strategy of the company not an easy solution that someone thinks that “may be it works here”. When the cells are adopted inside this spirit its difficult to achieve all the benefits of the cells transforming these, many times, in failures.