Maximilian Remmele, Team Leader Process Planning / Time Management, Kramer-Werke GmbH
Variable timing in a multi-variant pre-assembly line
Process times of activities are recorded and an increase in efficiency is achieved. By recording all process steps with MTM, efficiency can be further increased thanks to a clearly detailed and transparent database. However, the clocking with a fixed cycle time in a multi-variant assembly has its limits in terms of the possible capacity utilization of the employees. As a solution to this challenge, the idea of using variable takting in a pilot area and testing its possibilities and limits was born.
As the basis for variable cycle time is a constant flow, various conveyor systems are considered in the first step. A train chain will then be installed in the pilot area at the turn of the year 2023/2024. From March 2024, the variable cycle starts in the pilot area and has been in use ever since. The calculated potentials were achieved.