Why Does Cell Implementation Stop? Factors Influencing Cell Penetration in Manufacturing Plants

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1937-5956.2004.tb00512.x
• Publication Date: 2010-08-11T16:08:25Z
• Authors: Danny J. Johnson; Urban Wemmerlöv
• Keywords: Implementation; Cellular manufacturing; Cell formation

There is little understanding as to why firms have various degrees of cell usage. The intent this study was identify factors that had arrested continued implementation cells at surveyed manufacturing plants. We found no dominant factor prevented the from cellularization. However, by sub‐dividing plants into those with low and high direct labor hours spent in cells, short long experience without plans for further a clearer pattern emerged. inability find families stable demand, lack time implement more existence service processes, difficulty cost justifying new were most important factors, although their relative importance varied. findings support notion cellular has broad applicability form work organization users pursue implementations until viable sufficient utilization, demand stability, or economic value can be found.