The new competitive dynamics force industries to adopt new administrative and managerial strategies. The objectives are clear: grow against the competition and promote quality and agile customer service. In this scenario, the tool called kitting proves to be crucial.
What is kitting?
The search for greater competitiveness has led companies to focus their studies on the philosophy of lean production. This allows them to reduce costs and waste, increasing the production of their teams.
However, the industry needs to face another challenge: personalization. Customers are looking for products and services that directly address their needs and are no longer accepting generic solutions. From an operational point of view, this trend adds value to the product, which leads to significant diversification in the assembly line.
It is within this scenario that the tool emerges kitting. In general terms, it is the action of gathering the items that make up an order and grouping them into a package. This kit, in turn, is delivered to the assembly lines to complete the preparation of the order.
This entire process takes place in advance to avoid interruptions in the supply of products. kitting It is widely used in the assembly of identical or very similar orders — skin care or makeup products, toys, auto parts, among others. Thus, it guarantees personalization while optimizing the order and processes.
Benefits of kitting
This working method brings a series of advantages and the main one is provide operators with all the essential materials to carry out the work. This results in greater agility and cost savings.
Other benefits include:
• Space saving in manufacturing and assembly;
• Better control over work in process at stations;
• Increased flexibility of the assembly line, as the product is easily passed through;
• Better shop floor control;
• Increase in product quality, as it is possible to have greater control over it at the beginning of the value chain.
However, kitting can pose a challenge for companies. Businesses seeking to benefit from it need to allocate warehouse time and resources to a need that is not always evident. Once this “barrier” is overcome, the method brings great value to the production line.
Where to apply kitting
Another very common question is about the kitting application. According to experts, this process can take place in a central picking area or in decentralized areas close to the workstations. If feasible, these “packages” can even be assembled off-site by third parties.
There is no right choice, as each has its advantages and limitations. Having a central picking repository allows for the production of many kits in the same area — however, it can lead to a lack of communication.
On the other hand, having a central picking store provides the possibility of integrating the kitting area with the main stocks. This reduces unnecessary material handling, but requires space that many industries do not have.
Be that as it may, the kitting is a tool that is gaining a lot of space in warehouses. It brings concepts from theory Just In Time and provides a waste-free environment with increased productivity. Such characteristics are driven in an automated warehouse, so Click here and see if it's time to invest in one for your company.
