THE LIFE-CYCLE OF MANUFACTURING CELLS

When a functional layout is converted to a cellular layout, the cell d esign is generally based on a static picture of production volume and part mix, but manufacturing environments face ongoing changes in these parameters. It is expected that, eventually, changes in production vo lume and part mix will cause a deterioration in cell performance to th e point that a cell's machine layout must be redesigned, marking the e nd of the cell's life cycle. Tests the existence of cell life cycles a nd performance deterioration attributed to changes in production volum e and part mix through an exploratory field study which was undertaken at 15 firms using cellular manufacturing. Finds that cell life cycles did exist, but usually either in anticipation of declining cell perfo rmance - rather than in reaction to it - or in anticipation of potenti al improvements in cell performance due to changes in the marketplace.