Article ID: | iaor19941323 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 23 |
Issue: | 6 |
Start Page Number: | 25 |
End Page Number: | 37 |
Publication Date: | Nov 1993 |
Journal: | Interfaces |
Authors: | Ettlie John E., Penner-Hahn Joan |
Keywords: | production, equipment, transportation: general |
The authors performed a two-year case study on the ramp-up of a large flexible assembly system in a Midwestern automotive components plant. The new system was designed to be a creative replication of technology already in operation in the technology supplier’s firm and was purchased under a broad corporate alliance agreement as well as a detailed adoption contract. Although the project met its installation schedule, production targets, and direct labor cost savings objectives, the installation of this innovative, partially-tended assembly system raised several issues and questions regarding the optimal part mix schedule, quality standards, and maintenance schedules. The authors hypothesize that a curvilinear relationship exists between supplier-user satisfaction and flexibility outcomes. Moderate levels of satisfaction appear to maximize the ratio of part families per hour change-over capability of a new flexible system.