	MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION Process Development Custom Equipment Control Systems Integration Robotics Vision Systems Packaging Automation
	PLANNING AND PRODUCTIVITY Lean Manufacturing Value Stream Mapping Facilities Layout Plant Relocation Quality Systems Project Management
	CONTRACT MANUFACTURING Turnkey Manufacturing Automated Packaging Machine Design & Assembly UL Panel Design & Assembly Pharmaceutical Devices
	PRODUCT DESIGN Methodology Industrial Products Design to Production Mechanical/Electrical/Controls
	INFORMATION SYSTEMS PLC Supervisory Ctrl. & Data Acquisition Manufacturing Execution Systems

PLANNING AND PRODUCTIVITY

Manufacturing Relocation

Download PDF:

Background

Advent Design was asked to develop a production area layout and coordinate the move of an electronics manufacturer’s production area to a new facility. The manufacturer and their existing facility had recently been purchased by a larger industry firm, who quickly decided that the existing facility was too small and antiquated to meet desired production goals. Due the extremely strong demand for their product, the customer insisted that minimal production time be lost and that process improvements be minimized so as not to adversely impact current production.

Project Description

Manufacturing Relocation

Using standard industrial engineering analysis techniques, Advent Design reviewed the manufacturing operations at the existing facility to assist with the layout development for the new facility and for use in implementing some limited process improvements. Advent Design reviewed the manufacturing processes, surveyed the existing facility, and documented all of the production equipment and workstations located there. Once the current situation had been documented, this information was used to develop a layout plan for the new facility.

With the plan for the new facility in hand, the actual relocation effort was started. Two to four Advent Design personnel tagged the items to be moved each weekend on the Friday beforehand. The customer’s personnel with assistance from the mover would pack up the workstations and disconnect the production equipment. Then, on the Saturday of each move weekend, one Advent Design representative would be at the original facility to coordinate the removal of the tagged items. One to three Advent personnel would be at the new facility to coordinate the unloading, locating, and utility connection of the workstations and equipment moved that weekend. In this fashion over four weekends, the entire production area was relocated with minimal disruption to the production routine.

Impact

Advent’s effort resulted in a fairly seamless relocation of the customer’s production operations and a less than 10% loss in production time during the month of the relocation. Additionally, the potential process improvements identified during the initial manufacturing evaluation were documented for the customer’s implementation once they were settled in the new facility. Some limited process improvements which could be done at little or no cost, which did not adversely impact or delay production, and which entailed little or no risk, were implemented with the move.