SME MS920297

IN THE CONTINUOUS PURSUIT TO IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF EXISTING OR FUTURE INJECTION MOLDING OPERATIONS, MANAGERS ARE FOCUSING ON GOALS SUCH AS: QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, FASTER RESPONSE TIME, REDUCED INVENTORIES, AND LOWER OPERATING COSTS. IN MANY CASES, ATTENTION IS CONCENTRATED ON NEW TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCT DESIGN, AND OPERATING PROCEDURES. HOWEVER THERE IS ANOTHER AREA RICH WITH OPPORTUNITY, IN THE PLANNING AND LAYOUT OF THE ENTIRE INJECTION MOLDING PLANT. THE ENTIRE PLANT AND ITS ELEMENTS CAN BE EVALUATED AS TO HOW IT AFFECTS COMPETITIVENESS. THIS PAPER DISCUSSES PLANT-WIDE AUTOMATION STRATEGIES, MOLDING CELL DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCT HANDLING, SERVICE LAYOUT AND DISTRIBUTION, PLANT LAYOUT, AND BUILDING DESIGN AS THEY PERTAIN TO THE MANAGER'S GOALS. A STEP BY STEP APPROACH OUTLINES THE PROCEDURE AND ELEMENTS TO DEVELOPING COMPETITIVE PLANT LAYOUTS.