I was tasked with with recommending the production configuration for a low volume, variable product, assembly line (500 to 700 units per month). The request seemed simple enough. I have configured many systems in the past, but all with little product variability. This assembly line was different. The product was a data storage unit used to house information captured from the internet. The product could be ordered with a wide range of configurations.

fiber optic connecting data servers

Problems with Variable Assembly Line

The wide range of configurations available for the product introduced significant complexity and variability in the assembly process, making it challenging to accurately calculate throughput and resource assignments. The assembly times varied greatly depending on the specific configuration of the product, and the quality acceptance rates also fluctuated accordingly.

In the past, standard tools were sufficient for calculating throughput and resource assignments, but the complexity of the product configurations rendered them inadequate. These tools could not effectively capture the intricacies of the assembly process for the product, leading to inaccurate predictions and suboptimal resource allocation.

Attempting to estimate the necessary resources and assembly times based on guesswork would be risky and could lead to significant delays, quality issues, and cost overruns. As a result, it was imperative to find new and more effective methods for accurately assessing the assembly process’s requirements and optimizing resource allocation.

Using Process Simulation for Variability

A business associate showed me how I could use process simulation to configure and run the assembly line in the computer before running the actual system. I process mapped the flow of the assembly line. The assembly line had 14 stations, each of which could have zero to eight sub-assemblies added to the enclosure. For example a chassis goes to station one and could have one to four power supplies attached. In station two, one of two mother boards could be inserted. In station three, one to eight disk drives could be added, etc. A chassis that had a zero in the assembly requirement would simply slide through that assembly station. The configuration of the product dramatically altered the assembly time and the reject rates.process improvement in server production

The assembly line ended by going into two massive test chambers. One test chamber heated and the other cooled the product and both provided vibration. Failure rates were predicted to change based on complexity of configuration. For example, a computer with an extremely complex configuration would fail at a higher rate than a base model. Failed systems would be taken to a separate repair line and later re-enter the testing chambers. Failure rate calculations were entered using Excel like formulas.

The simulation software I was using allowed definition of the product configuration on the chassis. This means a distribution could be used to define how many of each part type a customer would request. Other distributions were used to select configurations based on market research. This made defining the model incredibly simple. A few well planned entries in to the process simulation allowed representation of the wide range of customer orders.

Interested in Process Simulation?

ProcessModel Simulation software can provide a powerful solution to the challenges posed by the wide range of product configurations in the assembly process. Create a digital twin of the assembly process that incorporates all the variables associated with the different product configurations.

Simulate the assembly process for each product configuration, allowing you to accurately predict the necessary resources and assembly times. Identify bottlenecks in the process and optimize resource allocation to ensure maximum efficiency and quality.

How Process Simulation Improved the Assembly Line

Inputting a product mix forecast, supplied by sales, allowed load balancing of the assembly line and staffing required to meet the monthly demand. Process improvement and final configuration of the assembly line was performed over two days with representatives from production, scheduling and management. We ran a mini Kaizen event on the simulation model. Ideas were identified and then immediately tried in the simulation model. This was helpful because production idea could be “tested” for months of simulated time within few minutes. We tried many ideas that seemed logical, but just didn’t work. In other cases, several ideas needed to be implemented at the same time in order to provide a real process improvement to the system as a whole. The simulation model helped us to understand why some changes would either work and others not. We could actually watch the animation of the simulation model and see problems as they developed. The simulation product chosen for this project was supplied by ProcessModel, Inc.  The software worked well for this project and the support was outstanding. There we several “how would I…” types of questions that support offered to help with on the spot.assembly line process improvement for server

What Process Simulation Did Not Find

Upon implementation of the real system, I found a couple of differences between the model and the real system. One of these differences was due to operators physically picking up and moving product from one part of the assembly line to another. This action by the assembly workers was not anticipated in the model (or by production management). In another instance, an assembly time was lower in the real system than in the model due to equipment changes. Even with these differences, the model predicted system performance within seven percent of the actual system. This variance from the plan to the real system is lowest of my career. In addition to the accuracy, I loved the ability to test process improvement ideas in the computer. This provided a huge boost in confidence for me as a consultant. I will definitely use simulation modeling in the future.