Patent ID: 6840367

Claim:
A manufacturing system which incorporates just-in-time and in-the-right-place principles for efficient production, said system including: a generally rectangular shaped building having a first wall ( 11 ) with two entry ports ( 21 , 22 ), a temporary storage building ( 41 ) which is in parallel relation to said first wall and has openings for two product-containing trailers ( 51 , 52 ), a second wall ( 12 ) in perpendicular relation to said first wall and having three entry ports ( 23 , 24 , 25 ) formed therein, a temporary storage building ( 42 ) which is in parallel relation to said second wall and has openings for three product-containing trailers ( 53 , 54 , 55 ), a third wall ( 13 ) which is in parallel relation to said first wall and which has three entry ports ( 26 , 27 , 28 ), a temporary storage building ( 43 ) which is in parallel relation to said third wall and has openings for three product containing trailers ( 56 , 57 , 58 ), a fourth wall ( 14 ) which is in perpendicular relation to said first wall and which has two entry ports ( 29 , 29 a ), an assembly line ( 30 ) which is generally rectangular in shape and which passes by each of said entry ports, a central sub-work area means ( 80 ) for performing at least one of drilling, cutting, welding and heat treating functions, said central sub-work area, being entirely contained within the perimeter of said assembly line, a unitary plastic tray means ( 70 ) for delivering electronic components to said assembly line or to said sub-work area, said tray having extended arm means ( 75 ) on one side thereof so that plural trays may be transported in a trailer ( 50 ) having racks ( 60 ), said tray including twenty identical cavities ( 74 ) which are arranged in plural rows and columns and which may be divided into strips for manufacturing efficiency.