Many assemblers believe they can implement lean principles simply by installing a few cells on the plant floor. However, contrary to popular belief, assembly cells are not a mandatory component of lean manufacturing. In fact, there are times when cells can even be counterproductive. For instance, cells are often incompatible with low-volume, high-mix production. It takes hard work and heads-up planning to assure the workcell concept will succeed.
A workcell is a group of workstations or machines arranged so that parts can be assembled progressively from one station to another without additional handling or having to wait for a batch to be completed. Cells may be dedicated to a process, a subcomponent or an entire product. One of the main purposes of a cell is to achieve and maintain efficient continuous flow.