• Cell concept: positioning within lean/within manufacturing

    • Cells: examples

    • Order-of-magnitude local improvement/incremental global improvement

    • Cell conversions: pilot projects in lean implementation

    • Limits of the cell concept

    • Lean cells: common misconceptions

  • Identifying cell opportunities through demand and process analysis 

    • Valid targets

    • Product-Quantity and seasonality analysis

    • Equipment dedication strategies

  • Steps in designing a cell 

    • Roughing/finishing a cell

    • Roughing a cell

      • Set the design takt time

      • Analyze the process

      • Select equipment

      • Plan capacity and labor requirements

      • Layout the equipment

      • Design operator jobs using work combination charts

    • Finishing a cell

      • Detailed workstation design

      • Fixture/tool management

      • Work instructions

      • Visual controls

      • Operating policies

  • Cell types: specific issues

    • Machining cells

    • Assembly cells

    • Fabrication cells

    • Feeder cells

    • Preparation/finishing cells

    • Pseudo-cells

  • Mixed-flow cells and cell changeovers

    • Dedicated vs. mixed-flow cells

    • Process compatibility

    • Equipment flexibility

    • Fixturing

    • Part supply

    • Error prevention

    • Product sequencing

  • Cell automation and chaku-chaku lines

    • Incremental approach to automation

    • Machining: automation steps

    • The chaku-chaku line

    • Full automation

    • Role of people

  • Logistics/production control with cells

    • Flow of materials around cells

    • Flow to tools to/from cells

    • Scheduling production in cells

    • Monitoring production in cells

  • Managing cell operations

    • Cell teams

    • Using staffing flexibility

    • Job assignments

      • With incomplete teams

      • With less than fully multi-skilled operators

    • Cell maintenance

    • Continuous improvement

  • Cells and quality

    • Process capability prerequisites

    • Scope of quality improvement in cells

    • Transition to mistake-proofing

  • Cell economics

    • Analysis of cell performance

      • Language of things

      • Language of money

    • Benchmarking a plant's cells against one another

    • Cash flow analysis

  • Cell implementation projects

    • What is implemented determines how

    • Cell implementation during Kaizen events

    • Cells requiring longer term projects

    • Sample cell implementation plan