Question

Which of the following is usually true:

a. Cells have lower WIP than job shops

b. Cells have higher WIP than job shops

c. Cells have similar WIP to job shops

d. WIP cannot be compared in general terms between cells and job shops

Answer 1

a. Cells have lower WIP than job shops

Job Shop layouts provide the capability to manufacture a huge variety of goods but they offer lower productivity and a high WIP(work in progress) and throughput times. The shift from job shop to cell offers an increase in productivity and reduction in throughput times and thereby lower WIP.

Cellular production is the preferred choice while implementing lean management principles. The one-piece flow approach applied in cells results in a lower WIP, which is due to the reduction in distances between the workstations.