One-piece-flow

Reduction of throughput time by optimising 'flow' in manufacturing

One-piece-flow is a means of drastically reducing production throughput time.

A production process on the one-piece-flow principle (optimised flow in manufacturing) involves components passing directly from one machine to the next (the most extreme form of throughput time reduction). Parts are always transferred individually. This is only possible in closely-linked operational processes. An adaptation of operational processes to “one-piece-flow” is therefore only possible after a careful examination of available capacity.   

Advantages of one-piece-flow:

• high level of transparency in working processes
• earliest possible recognition of defects
• short throughput times
• reduction of work in progress