An operator information system for parallel, off-line assembly

The Black & Decker factory in Easton, Maryland, now produces many model types in small, infrequent production runs. This has motivated the plant to purchase and install parallel, off-line assembly lines that reduce changeover times. However, the production operators are still using work instructions that are hard to find, hard to interpret, and often outdated. The University of Maryland and Black & Decker have developed and implemented an operator information system that supports parallel, off-line assembly. Using this system, Black & Decker personnel create and update easy-to-read paperless work instructions, and each operator workstation automatically retrieves the correct paperless work instructions and displays them. Because the system uses Internet technology, engineers anywhere can view the work instructions.