Toshiba's Notebook Computer Assembly Line

Toshihiro Nakamura, manufacturing engineering section manager, is examining the prototype assembly process sheet (shown in Exhibit 6.8) for the newest subnotebook computer model. With every new model introduced, management felt that the assembly line had to increase productivity and lower costs, usually resulting in changes to the assembly process. When a new model is designed, considerable attention is directed toward reducing the number of components and simplifying parts production and assembly requirements. This new computer was a marvel of high-tech, low-cost innovation and should give Toshiba an advantage during the upcoming fall/winter selling season.

Production of the subnotebook is scheduled to begin in 10 days. Initial production for the new model is to be 150 units per day, increasing to 270 units per day the following week (management thought that eventually production would reach 300 units per day). Assembly lines at the plant normally are staffed by 10 operators who work at a 14.4-meter-long assembly line. The line is organized in a straight line with workers shoulder to shoulder on one side. The line can accommodate up to 12 operators if there is a need. The line normally operates for 7.5 hours a day (employees work from 8:15 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and regular hours include one hour of unpaid lunch and 15 minutes of scheduled breaks). It is possible to run one, two, or three hours of overtime, but employees need at least three days' notice for planning purposes.

The Assembly Line

At the head of the assembly line, a computer displays the daily production schedule, consisting of a list of model types and corresponding lot sizes scheduled to be assembled on the line. The models are simple variations of hard disk size, memory, and battery power. A typical production schedule includes seven or eight model types in lot sizes varying from 10 to 100 units. The models are assembled sequentially: All the units of the first model are assembled, followed by all the units of the second, and so on. This computer screen also indicates how far along the assembly line is in completing its daily schedule, which serves as a guide for the material handlers who supply parts to the assembly lines.

Exhibit 6.8: Notebook Computer Assembly Process Sheet

TASK TASK TIME (SECONDS) TASKS THAT MUST PRECEDE

1.Assemble Cover 74 None

2.Install LCD in Cover. 52 Task 1

3.Prepare Base Assembly. 25 None

4.Install M-PCB in Base. 37 Task 3

5.Install CPU 24 Task 4

6.Install Backup Batteries and Test. 42 Task 4

7.Install Accupoint Pointing Device and Wrist Rest. 35 Task 4

8.Install Speaker and Microphone. 47 Task 4

9.Install Auxiliary Printed Circuit Board (A-PCB) on 26 Task 4

M-PCB.

10.Prepare and Install Keyboard. 27 Task 9

11.Prepare and Install Digital VideoDrive

(DVD) and Hard Disk Drive (HDD). 49 Task 10

12.Install Battery Pack. 10 Task 11

13.Insert Memory Card. 6 Task 12

14.Start Software Load. 9 Tasks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13

15.Software Load. 289 Task 14

16.Test Video Display. 60 Task 15

17.Test Keyboard. 60 Task 16

The daily schedules are shared with the nearby Fujihashi Parts Collection and Distribution Center. Parts are brought from Fujihashi to the plant within two hours of when they are needed. The material supply system is very tightly coordinated and works well.

The assembly line consists of a 14.4-meter conveyor belt that carries the computers, separated at 1.2-meter intervals by white stripes on the belt. Workers stand shoulder to shoulder on one side of the conveyor and work on the units as they move by. In addition to the assembly workers, a highly skilled worker, called a "supporter," is assigned to each line. The supporter moves along the line, assisting workers who are falling behind and replacing workers who need to take a break. Supporters also make decisions about what to do when problems are encountered during the assembly process (such as a defective part). The line speed and the number of workers vary from day to day, depending on production demand and the workers' skills and availability. Although the assembly line has 12 positions, often they are not all used.

Exhibit 6.9 provides details of how the engineers who designed the new subnotebook computer felt that the new line should be organized.

Exhibit 6.9: Engineers' initial design of the assembly line

ASSEMBLY LINE POSITION TASKS WORKSTATION NUMBER LABOR TIME (SECONDS)

1 Assemble Cover(74) 1 74

2. Install LCD in cover. (52) 2 52 + 25 = 77

3. Prepare Base Assembly. (25) 3

4. Install Main Printed Circuit Board (M-PCB) in Base. (37) 3 37 + 24 + 42 = 103

5. Install CPU .(24)

6. Install Backup Batteries and Test. (42) 4

7. Install Accupoint Pointing Device and Wrist Rest. (35) 4 35 + 47 + 26 = 108

8. Install Speaker and Microphone. (47)

9. Install Auxiliary Printed Circuit Board(A-PCB) on M-PCB. (26) 5

10. Prepare and Install Keyboard. (27) 5 27 + 49 + 10 + 6 + 9 = 101

11. Prepare and Install (DVD) & Hard Disk Drive (HDD). (49) 5

12. Install Battery Pack. (10) 5

13. Insert Memory Card. (6) 5

14. Start Software Load. (9) 6

15. Software Load (120) 7

15. Software Load (120) 8

15. Software Load (49) 9

16. Test Video Display. (60) 6 60 + 60 = 120

17. Test Keyboard. (60)

10 Empty.

11 Empty.

12 Empty.

In words, the following is a brief description of what is done at each workstation:

Workstation 1: The first operator lays out the major components of a computer between two white lines on the conveyor. The operator then prepares the cover for accepting the LCD screen by installing fasteners and securing a cable.

Workstation 2: The second operator performs two different tasks. First, the LCD screen is installed in the cover. This task needs to be done after the cover is assembled (task 1). A second independent task done by the operator is the preparation of the base so that the Main Printed Circuit Board (M-PCB) can be installed.

Workstation 3: Here the M-PCB is installed in the base. After this is done, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and backup batteries are installed and tested.

Workstation 4: The Accupoint Pointing Device (touchpad) and wrist rest are installed, the speaker and microphone is installed, and the Auxiliary Printed Circuit Board (A-PCB) is installed. These are all independent tasks that can be done after the M-PCB is installed.

Workstation 5: Here, tasks are performed in a sequence. First, the keyboard is installed, followed by the DVD and Hard Disk Drive (HDD). The battery pack is then installed, followed by the memory card. The computer is then powered up and a program started that loads software that can be used to test the computer. Actually loading the software takes 289 seconds, and this is done while the computer travels through positions 6, 7, and 8 on the assembly line. Computers that do not work are sent to a rework area where they are fixed. Only about 1 percent of the computers fail to start, and these are usually quickly repaired by the supporter.

Workstation 6: The video display and keyboard are tested in this workstation.

After assembly, the computers are moved to a separate burn-in area that is separate from the assembly line. Here, computers are put in racks for a 24-hour, 25C "burn-in" of the circuit components. After burn-in, the computer is tested again, software is installed, and the finished notebook computer is packaged and placed on pallets for shipment to Toshiba distribution centers around the world.

Tweaking the Initial Assembly-Line Design

From past experience, Toshihiro has found that the initial assembly-line design supplied by the engineers often needs to be tweaked. Consider the following questions that Toshihiro is considering:

What is the daily capacity of the assembly line designed by the engineers? Assume that the assembly line has a computer at every position when it is started at the beginning of the day.(Do not round intermediate calculations. Round down your answer to the next smallest integer.)