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Continuous Flow Manufacturing (CFM)
Continuous Flow Manufacturing or in short CFM is a technique used in the
production process. According to this tactic, it is important to go for
improvement effort continuously something that calls for an amalgamation of all
the fundamentals that are involved in the process of manufacturing. By ensuring
a minimum level of wastage, error free production and cost saving approach, the
Continuous Flow Manufacturing or CFM process intends to obtain a balanced
production line.
The CFM system is usually implemented in discrete manufacturing in an
attempt to deal with the production volumes comprising discrete units of
production in a flow. It is to be mentioned that there is more possibility of
the discrete manufacturing to be performed in batches of product units that are
moved form one process to another inside the factory. During a work-time or
run-time, each process is likely to add value to the batch.
The CFM system is usually implemented in discrete manufacturing in an
attempt to deal with the production volumes comprising discrete units of
production in a flow. It is to be mentioned that there is more possibility of
the discrete manufacturing to be performed in batches of product units that are
moved form one process to another inside the factory. During a work-time or
run-time, each process is likely to add value to the batch.
In today’s world, when the market is increasingly becoming competitive, it
is important to give maximum priority to what a customer expects. A product that
fails to satisfy the needs of a customer may turn out to be a product that has
lacking in efficiency and quality. Under the CFM system a manufacturer produces
that product only which has demand in the market. Some of the pros that are
associated with CFM include more efficiency, flexibility, cost saving & greater
satisfaction of the customers.
In simple words, we can say that CFM is a particular process that is
implemented to develop improved process flow through diligent team work as well
as combined problem solving.
A problem solving team is managed by a leadership team which is formed by
three sub teams. One of the responsibilities of these teams is that they
identify and implement process flow requirements. In addition to this, they also
conduct evaluation for the ongoing process. The organization operates as a
change agent and provides assistance for improving the process. The organization
manages to adopt a continuous flow manufacturing environment through the efforts
of the team.
The advantages include:
 Greater
level of customer satisfaction
Reduction
in attrition rate
Improved
quality and minimum level of wastage
Improved
scheduling, reduced flow time and cost effective
Improved
control over the inventory and reduction in- process inventory
. Utilization
of resources in a better way
. Eradication
of the tasks that are non value added
. Enhanced
safety practices
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