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Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Best Practice : Electro-Optic Sensors and Precision Assembly Multi-Sensor Factory
Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) integrated the electro-optic sensors and precision assembly (EOSPA) area into a common manufacturing factory that produces sensors for various missile programs. By using a central manufacturing site, the company can easily meet changing requirements and configurations without rearranging production areas. In 1997, RMSC reorganized this factory by setting up flexible work cells dedicated to building specific product types in standardized operations. These work cells increased the use of existing capital equipment, and maximized the workforce knowledge base across all EOSPA product lines (e.g., spinning mass gyros, stabilized platforms, active optical target detectors/fuses).
The consolidation of the EOSPA workload is in response to the company’s changing work environment. The EOSPA workload has transformed from a high-volume, low-mixture atmosphere to a low-volume, high-mixture setting. The EOSPA Multi-Sensor factory has produced many benefits for RMSC:
Work-in-process reduced by 52%
Work-in-process to sales ratio improved by 82%
Factory square footage reduced by 42%
Manufacturing cycle time improved by 79%
Pilot area square footage reduced by 25%
Pilot area cycle time improved by 92%
Schedule performance improved by 91%
Facilities cost avoidance saved $2.5 million
Part numbers reduced by 11% (Stinger and Rolling Airframe Missile programs)
Pilot area schedule performance improved by 100%
Since implementing the EOSPA Multi-Sensor factory, RMSC has reduced its product and support costs. This approach also makes the company flexible and competitive for emerging product programs.
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