Title: Supporting flexibility of kit preparation for mixed-model assembly

Authors: Patrik Fager; Robin Hanson; Lars Medbo; Mats I. Johansson

Addresses: Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Vera Sandbergs Allé 8, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Vera Sandbergs Allé 8, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Vera Sandbergs Allé 8, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Vera Sandbergs Allé 8, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: Flexibility is key with mixed-model assembly, and kitting is often applied here as a flexible approach of materials supply. While the flexibility benefits of kitting are understood, there has been a lack of guidance on how to support flexibility of the kit preparation process. Accordingly, this paper's purpose is to support the design of flexible processes for kit preparation. To achieve this, a framework is developed based on empirical data from five industrial cases. Flexibility is considered amongst five flexibility types - new product, modification, mix, volume and delivery - and six kit preparation design aspects: location, layout, work organisation, packaging, material-handling equipment, and picking information system. The paper contributes guidance of how to support kit preparation flexibility within industry, which has been rare in literature. Several of the findings may be exploited in similar contexts, for example in warehouse order picking and assembly.

Keywords: flexibility; kitting; kit preparation; order picking; materials handling; in-plant materials supply; mixed-model assembly; production flexibility.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2021.120494

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2021 Vol.40 No.4, pp.541 - 560

Received: 13 Aug 2019
Accepted: 08 Nov 2019
Published online: 24 Jan 2022 *

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