- Conduct a proper analysis and simulation of your upcoming line
Conduct a proper analysis and simulation of your upcoming lineThe thing you need to do is to create a clear view of how your upcoming production line will work, including the flow of consumables and operator work pattern. If you conduct an analysis from start, by using simulation and animations, you ensure a use of the machines and thereby obtain a high return on investment. You should conduct the initial analysis before choosing supplier and machines. The analysis process consists of either a mapping of an existing line, or the use of theoretical data if the machines are not available for analysis. You should also have one party responsible for the simulation to ensure that you get correct and sufficient information from all the machine suppliers. The granularity of each machine is determined by previous experience of that particular machine to safeguard the simulation result.
- Create general control architecture of the production line
control architecture of the production lineWhen working with your design-reviews, it is important to focus just as much on the control architecture as the mechanical solution. You should request from the supplier that all the machines’ states should be defined in the same way. That means that you can conduct better data for analysis of production improvements, gain an easier maintenance process as well as integrate new future machines in an easy consistent way.
If you work with standardization, you increase the chance to to produce more products. An monitoring over the line performance, helping you to find next production efficiency improvement. In the start-up phase, it is important to be just as skilled at writing requirement specifications as writing mechanical specifications. Over all, it is important to have a strict control over the architecture of the programming to make sure that the communication between the machines work.
- All interfaces of a production line need to have a clear ownership
All interfaces of a production line need to have a clear ownershipA clear ownership contributes to the whole production line being more effective and ensures that the production line will reach the capacity it is designed for. This means that the plants can produce more products with a reduced risk of disturbances, and ultimately gain better OEE. If problems would occur, with for example a start-up, an indefinite ownership means that it is unclear who will take responsibility and you as a customer will suffer. Therefore, it is important to involve the supplier of automated production flow solutions early in the process. This enables a clear dialogue between the machine supplier and production flow supplier. A close cooperation in the implementation process can to the machines being adjusted according to the overall product flow, which means that all interfaces become well defined. This brings a holistic approach that results in a better production line in the end.
- Focus on how the production line will be operated
Focus on how the production line will be operatedWhen implementing a new production line, it is important to consider the operators who will be working with the production. How can the production line be as effective as possible, and how can the production line be designed in an way for the personnel working with it? The production line should be easy to work with, it should be easy to clean and easy to extend, and there should be good access to all the machines.
A way to incorporate this mindset, is to create a clear vision of how the factory should work and what it should accomplish. It is important to include the operators as well as hygiene experts from the beginning. All parties’ questions must be answered during the quotation stage, before the equipment is in place. This goes hand in hand with building production lines with quality and good hygiene. A production line should have a clear concept from process to palletizing, which contributes to both efficiency and a higher output. If the implementation of the production line is consistent, it will also benefit the operators. It will to more motivated personnel doing a better job, which in the end s to more production.
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