Tool selection and kitting : technical and organizational issues
Name
857790613-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
10.78 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
7aeed877dbb7bca7377fa8b8c55d2897
Author(s)
Stein, Jeffrey N., M.B.A. (Jeffrey Nicholas). Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Advisor(s)
Daniel Whitney and Steven J. Spear.
Date Issued
2013
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Boeing South Carolina builds the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world's first composite-skinned wide-body jet. This new manufacturing facility is evolving to meet the demands of building this complex aircraft. One of the challenges faced by this site is providing the manufacturing workforce with the best tools for the job in an efficient manner. Two different research streams investigate this high-level problem. First is a technical investigation into the selection of a cutter (drill bit) for use in drilling Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) and titanium stacks found in the door surrounds of the aircraft. It was found that a double margin tungsten carbide (WC) cutter with a 1350 point angle and double margin design had superior cost and quality performance as compared to a 1180 point angle polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutter with a single margin design that was previously used. For this specific application, changing to the proposed WC cutter resulted in savings of approximately 66% per airplane in tool costs alone and a 62% reduction in defects. Second is an investigation into the use of tool kits as a means of providing the manufacturing workforce with commonly needed tools. It was found that kits were not as effective as anticipated in reducing the wasted time from retrieving tools at a central location known as a Tool Crib. To ameliorate this, a series of investigations were conducted, creating analytical tools for identifying shortcomings in the tool kitting distribution system. A team was formed to execute improvements based on the analytical tools developed and achieved a 45% reduction in tools retrieved from outside mechanics' work areas over a 12-week period.
Description
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2013.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-83).
Subjects
Sloan School of Management.
Mechanical Engineering.
Leaders for Global Operations Program.
MIT Department
Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sloan School of Management
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