Title: Integration of flexible manufacturing and assembly using Kanban and simulation approach

Authors: Shervin Moradi; Mohsen Alvandi

Addresses: Industrial Management Group, Department of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, 34148-96818, Iran ' Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, 34148-96818, Iran

Abstract: Purpose - This research aims to minimise the total cost function and eliminate Mudas by simulation, the Flexible manufacturing and assembly, and Kanban approaches. Design/methodology/approach - The approaches used in this paper include FMS, FMA, Kanban, and discrete-event simulation. Findings - Implementing FMS, FMA, and Kanban increases production, reduces the number of labours, WIP, and total cycle time, and increases average labour utilisation. Thus, the total cost is minimised. Research limitations/implications - The study is limited to large manufacturing firms and does not consider service industries or small and medium enterprises. Originality/value - This research suggested a Novel approach using the flexible assembly and production, the Kanban logic, redesigning the factory layout, analysing the utilisation of the labour, and using the AnyLogic simulation approaches together. Also, the overall equipment effectiveness is calculated in this model.

Keywords: flexible manufacturing system; flexible assembly system; Kanban; simulation; discrete-even; overall equipment effectiveness; trigger point.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOI.2021.120697

International Journal of Services Operations and Informatics, 2021 Vol.11 No.4, pp.403 - 421

Received: 19 Dec 2020
Accepted: 23 Dec 2020

Published online: 03 Feb 2022 *

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