Optimizing flow and minimizing waste are two of the basic elements of lean manufacturing. Those concepts also play a critical role in laying out assembly lines.
The way in which workstations and tools are arranged can affect ergonomics, productivity and throughput. Lean lines should accommodate increasing product variety without compromising quality or introducing waste into the process. Whether it’s a high-volume, low-mix environment or a low-volume, high-mix line, flexibility is critical.