Design of Production Systems for Batch Production in Short Series to Reduce Lead Time

Companies using production of small batches, with a large number of products made in a number of variants, often have a high level of work in progress. Much has been published recently about production flow groups and balancing of flow to solve the problems experienced in these companies and production flow groups seem to be regarded as a panacea. This means that the cost of fixed assets for this type of industry will increase, but less capital will be tied up in products and work in progress. Assesses whether production flow groups are in reality the optimal way of organizing batch production and gives some assistance in the design of systems for batch production in order to achieve shorter lead times and decreased costs. The results of case studies show that there is not a single solution to the problems, although a large number of advantages are realized. Compared to the traditional way of organizing production this way of operating breaks down the organization into small units, adapts the production organization to prevailing conditions and unites the different parts into a functioning whole, together with the planning function.