One Piece Flow refers to the concept of moving one workpiece at a time between operations within a workcell. At the opposite extreme, we might process an entire batch or lot at each operation before moving it to the next operation.
This idea has many benefits. It keeps WIP at the lowest possible level. It encourages work balance, better quality and a host of internal improvements.
We often hear One Piece Flow pronounced as an absolute must for any workcell. Like the search for the Holy Grail it is taken as a moral imperative. At Strategos, we find it more helpful to think of this question as the "Transfer Batch" or "Internal Lot size." The issue is: "What Internal Lot Size will help the cell meet its performance goals."
To approach engineering design using slogans, edicts, or other grand pronouncements is a dangerous business. Yet many teachers, consultants and practitioners do it. Here are some of the more common edicts:
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