Kit preparation using batching – quantitative results from two experiments

With kitting, the assembly stations are fed with kits, where each kit contains a selection of components for one assembly object. Considerable knowledge gaps exist concerning kit preparation, and this paper aims to determine if and how efficiency is affected by the use of batch preparation, compared to preparation of one kit at a time. The paper is based on two experiments, performed at a vehicle assembly plant. The results provide a strong indication of the advantages associated with batch preparation, in terms of man hour efficiency