Rapid changeover - a pre-requisite for responsive manufacture

The ability to effect rapid changeover on a manufacturing line, from one pr oduct to another is a Ley pre-requisite for increased flexibility, lead tim e reduction and responsive manufacture. However it is a rarity for changeov er times to be part of the design specification of a new machine tool or to oling system and even when it is, there are few design guidelines for trans lating the required changeover time into reality. This paper describes a se t of "design for changeover" rules that have been derived from action resea rch, carried out within a variety of companies. The rules address the desig n of machines, tooling ancillary equipment and the products themselves and their use has been shown, through case studies, to lead to a significant re duction in changeover time and a leaner, more responsive Manufacturing envi ronment.