Abstract
GEC ALSTHOM Large Machines Limited is a traditional heavy engineering company specializing in electrical machines (Fig. 1), and has successfully evolved over 90 years of operation. This historical success, however, led to a very functionalized layout of workshops and facilities totally unsuited to the present dynamic world market.
Through a company-wide improvement programme the company has been restructured within the existing buildings and site to take advantage of the latest cellular technology, using numerous innovative concepts in manufacture and adoption of just in time (JIT), total quality management (TQM) and design for manufacture (DFM) concepts in a low volume manufacturing environment.
The project involved the complete redesign of the factory layout, introduction of new products and equipment and concepts, resulting in dramatically improved leadtimes, inventories and sales per employee.
The case study is probably unique in that the programme was executed while increasing full production and involved the adoption of techniques often only associated with volume manufacture.