When and how to use a template during the move of a manufacturing process

What is it about?

A standard technique for moving a process is the use of a template - a detailed description of the workflow, division of labor, tasks, material flow, etc. We show in the lab that such a template indeed increases the speed of the production ramp-up after a move - but we also show that if conditions between sites are very different, the template can quickly looses its effectiveness. Further, we show that if the template is too strictly enforced, without the ability of the workteam to make changes, they loose their motivation and productivity suffers significantly.

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Why is it important?

Production moves happen all the time - for different reasons. Understanding how to minimize the productivity loss that these moves imply is therefore a very important endeavor.