Equipment and workstations are arranged in a sequence that supports a smooth flow of materials and components through the process, with minimal transport or delay. A cell consists of the people and the machines or workstations required for performing the steps in a process or process segment, with the machines arranged in the processing sequence. The goals of one-piece flow are to make one part at a time all the time, without unplanned interruptions, and to achieve this without lengthy queue times. Given the fact that customers expect variety and customization, as well as specific quantities delivered at a specific time, it is necessary to remain flexible enough to serve their needs.
Cellular manufacturing offers companies the flexibility to give customers the variety they want.
It does this by grouping similar products into families that can be processed on the same equipment in the same sequence. It also encourages companies to shorten the time required for changeover between products. This eliminates a major reason for making products in large lots that changeovers take too long to change the product type frequently. Converting a factory to cellular manufacturing means eliminating waste from processes as well as from operations. Cellular manufacturing helps employees by strengthening the company's competitiveness, which helps support job security.