Reforming a conventional vehicle assembly plant for job enrichment

Abstract

Although conventional conveyor-based vehicle assembly systems have proved to be very efficient in terms of plant productivity, it has also been recognized as a system which puts too much pressure on people. This paper introduces an alternative to conventional conveyor-based assembly lines, one that is designed to enrich the work environment of employees without sacrificing productivity. The reforming methodology suggested here applies the idea of cell manufacturing to the conventional conveyor-based assembly line system, but it does not require making any major changes to the existing hardware configurations of the plant. Benefits of the reformed line for workers include a longer cycle time, more balanced work loads, and greater protection against developing musculoskeletal disorders. To prove the effectiveness of the suggested methodology, we built a virtual factory model and performed simulations to assess the performance of the reformed line.

Keywords:

• Automotive assembly
• Humanization
• Job enrichment
• Toyota production system
• Lean production
• Reflective production
• Cell manufacturing
• Virtual factory