Measuring Flow

1
Measuring Flow

• Quantitative Flow Measurement
• pieces/hour, moves/day, pounds/week
• From-to Chart similar to mileage chart
• Qualitative Flow Measurement
• preference on closeness of two departments
• Relationship chart (REL chart)

2
Quantitative Flow Measurement
From-to Chart

• List all departments down the row and across the
  column following the overall flow pattern
• Establish a measure of flow indicating flow
  volumes
• Record flow volume based on flow path and measure
  of flow

From-to Chart characteristics
Entries below the diagonal represent
backtracking Ideal case All entries are 1 unit
above diagonal movement between adjacent
departments
3
Qualitative Flow Measurement
Developed by Muther (1973) Systematic Layout
Planning
Value Reason
REL Chart construction

• List all departments
• Conduct interview/survey people from these
  departments management
• Define criteria for assigning closeness
  relationships
• Establish relationship value and reason for the
  value for all dept. pairs
• Allow people to evaluate/discuss changes

• A Absolutely necessary
• E Especially important
• I Important

• O Ordinary closeness okay
• U Unimportant
• X - Undesirable

Values
4
Space Requirements
Remember You are planning for the future
PREDICTION
Uncertainties

• Impact of technology
• Changing product mix
• Changing demand levels

Inflated Estimates
Parkinsons Law Things will expand to fill all
available capacity sooner than you plan
5
Workstation Specifications
Space for

• Equipment
• Materials
• Personnel

• The Equipment
• Machine Travel
• Machine Maintenance
• Plant Services

Equipment Space Requirements

• Static height, width, depth
• Maximum vertical, left, right, front, and back
  travel
• Maintenance requirements and areas
• Plant service requirements and areas

6
Workstation Specs (cont)
Materials area

• Receiving and storing materials
• In-process materials
• Storing and shipping materials
• Storing and shipping waste scrap
• Tools, fixtures, jigs, dies, maintenance material

Dimensions of the unit loads to be handled Flow
of material through the machine
7
Workstation specs (cont)
Personnel area

• The operator
• Material Handling
• Operator entry and exit

• Not too much walking, awkward reaches
• Minimize manual handling of materials
• Maximize safety comfort and productivity
• Minimize hazards, fatigue and eye strain

8
Department Specification
Departmental service requirements
Minimize operational interference during sharing
Aisle space requirements
Aisle arrangement too narrow vs. too wide