Cellular Manufacturing Systems Design and Implementation for Plywood Product Manufacturing Process Improvement********

在柔性先进制造系统领域，基于成组技术(GT)的单元化制造(CM)在批量生产中的好处早已确立。这种类型的制造系统是在高效的大批量生产系统和高度灵活的作业车间系统之间取得平衡的，通常适合于中型的基于批处理的制造系统。位于蒙特利尔地区的SEATPLY Products Inc.将把其主要基于作业车间的系统转换为蜂窝制造系统，以提高生产率和系统灵活性。拟议的研究将使用现有的数值工具，并开发新的模拟和/或优化工具，将木制品车间转化为制造单元。预计在系统实施的数值结果分析方面将面临研究挑战。还将考虑与木制品制造相关的实际方面，如在制品库存、模具库存和管理、单元互动、劳动力能力等。研究结果将改善产品质量、更顺畅的物流、减少劳动力波动和理想的库存水平，并最终产生更高的生产效率和更低的生产成本，使SEATPLY在加拿大这一重要行业中更具竞争力。*

Benefits of cellular manufacturing (CM) based on Group Technology (GT) in batch production have been long established in the area of flexible advanced manufacturing systems. This type of manufacturing systems are to make a balance between highly efficient mass production systems and highly flexible job shop systems, and are typically suitable for mid-size batch-based manufacturing systems. SEATPLY Products Inc. in Montreal area is to convert its mainly job-shop based systems to cellular manufacturing systems for productivity and system flexibility enhancement. The proposed research will use available numerical tools and develop new simulation and/or optimization tools for converting wood product job shop to manufacturing cells. The research challenges are expected in the analysis of numerical results for system implementation. Practical aspects related to wood product manufacturing such as work-in-process inventory, mold inventory and management, cell interactions, labor force capacities, etc., will also be taken into account. The outcome of the research will lead to improved product quality, smoother material flows, reduced workforce fluctuations and desirable inventory levels and eventually yield higher production efficiency and lower production cost, making SEATPLY more competitive in this sector of important Canadian industry.****