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Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Point-of-Use Material Issue
The sheer volume of parts needed to keep up with assembly line demands (25 units per day) of the TOW missile program, makes kitting an impossible task. In the early days of the program, Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) used a central conveyor belt, which ran through the assembly area and delivered material. Today, the company uses a more efficient point-of-use method to accomplish this task.
The Point-of-Use Material Issue process moves material from the stockroom to the appropriate location on the TOW assembly line, without first kitting the parts. Mobile carts are used to transport and house material needed at each operation or cell. Material is then fed to each cell from the previous cell. When a cell runs out of items, additional material is sent to that location.
The Point-of-Use Material Issue process enabled RMSC to reduce the cycle times for the TOW missile program by eliminating non-value added time for kitting as well as unnecessary material movement. This process is also an example of RMSC’s Agile Improvement practices, which strive to eliminate waste and reduce manufacturing lead times.
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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