Whitepaper: Managing Constraints

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and a packaging line is only as fast as its slowest machine. The slowest machine is the constraint that determines the potential output of the line.

Buffers can be used to manage this constraint to improve total throughput. The terms buffer and accumulator are often used interchangeably. They are actually two similar but different things.

An accumulator amasses product for the next production step. A case packer will often have an accumulation section at the infeed where bottles are distributed from 1 lane to multiple lanes in a section that may be several feet long. The purpose of this accumulation is to provide sufficient backpressure to allow the  case packer to function smoothly.

The purpose of a buffer is to provide an up- or downstream buffer for a machine to smooth line flow.

As an example, let’s assume a 200ppm bottling line consisting of the following equipment, arranged sequentially and connected by 5’ lengths of conveyor.

Each machine runs reliably at 200ppm with no stoppages. Yeah, I know, but let’s pretend.

Download the complete Managing Constraints Whitepaper to continue learning about how to use buffers to increase production with minimal expense.

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