A novel product development approach for cost and time saving by adopting cellular prototype manufacturing concept

Abstract

In the present times the challenge is to utilize manufacturing line more productively to achieve faster launching of new products in the market. Prototype manufacturing is the key to achieve the product launches in minimum development time. As manufacturing lines have capacity constraints, a new evolved prototype manufacturing for bearing development has become possible to obtain bearing in time to market. On prototype manufacturing setup variable tooling’s are less in quantity as compared to bearing manufacturing online setup. As a result tooling design and development time are less and cost-effective. Prototype manufacturing has proven that effective utilization of machines supports bearing industry to minimize manufacturing time and also majorly reduces the overall product development time. The paper discusses the prototype manufacturing of bearing in Protoshop. The paper also presents time and cost saving in the manufacturing of the new product in Protoshop. There is significant reduction observed in cost by 81% and time by 60% with the help of prototype manufacturing. It is evident from the current study that adoption of prototype manufacturing within an organization not only productivity helps in having smooth, regular production by overcoming major issues related to more setting on manufacturing lines and capacity.