The goal of this project was to reduce the manufacturing throughput time for large resin superabrasive grinding wheels Saint-Gobain’s Worcester plant. The methods used included lean manufacturing concepts, current and future state value stream maps, industrial process simulation using Arena®, and spaghetti diagrams. The results identified production bottlenecks, calculation of queuing times and new production schedules. The two main conclusions show first, material modifications to the production schedule that will reduce the throughput time and second, a discounted cash flow analysis of the impact of our proposed recommendations.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• LaPierre, Katherine Rachel
• Holmes, Allison Ann
• White, Chelsea Cailin
• White, Ashley Maurissa
• Nicoletti, Celeste Lillian

Contributors

• Zea, Nicole
• Saberi, Sara

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-121117-165733

Advisor

• Saberi, Sara
• Towner, Walter Thomas
• Vassallo, Helen G.

Year

• 2017

Sponsor

• Saint-Gobain

Date created

• 2017-12-11

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Management Engineering
• Industrial Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright