Resetting Performance Evaluation of an Automated Line with Short Setup Time

Abstract

At the Wellspect distribution centre products are packaged for delivery all over the world. This requires a production system that quickly can change from producing packages for one country to produce for another. The fastest growing product segments are packaged in an automated line operated by four employees. To meet future demand an increase in capacity is needed. The purpose of the project has been to look at the possible savings in setup times to reach higher productivity and thus higher capacity. The savings suggested should also decrease the variation of the setups to get a stable setup time. The combined effect of implementing organisational, method, and technical improvements is that capacity increase of 15,7% has been achieved, with time savings of 32% for the most common setup variant. The investment cost is quickly repaid when calculating against the alternative cost of adding an extra shift. The results where reached by videotaping the setup and analysing it in the Avix software. All methods and activities performed during the setup were then questioned to find improvements or possibility of doing the activity externally. Standardised work sheet and work combination tables have been developed to help support a standardised work and also act as a communication tool. Keywords: