Manufacturing Cycle Time Analysis and Scheduling to Optimize Its Duration

This paper reports the results of investigations on manufacturing cycle times for special-purpose products. The company performs serial production characterized by complex and diverse technologies, alternative solutions and combined modes of workpiece movement in the manufacturing process. Because of various approaches to this problem, an analysis of previous investigations has been carried out, and a theoretical base is provided for the technological cycle and factors affecting the manufacturing cycle time. The technological and production documentation of the company has been analysed to establish the technological and real manufacturing cycle times, total losses and flow coefficients. This paper describes the original approach to production cycle scheduling on the grounds of investigations of manufacturing capacity utilization levels and causes of loss, in order to measure their effects and to reduce the flow coefficient to an optimum level. The results are a segment of complex studies on the production cycle management of complex products, accomplished in the company in the period from 2010 to 2012.