Analysis and improvement of the productive activity of a preforming cell

As a result of the analysis of the processes, through the study of the production factors, with particular reference to the present machines, manpower used and operating practices, and the study of the material flow in a pre-forming cell located within the forging department of a company that produces blades for gas and steam turbines, the introduction of a new manufacturing process inside the cell was undertaken. In addition to the heating procedures of the electric rotary furnace, the hot forging with the hydraulic press, the cogging operation with the pre-forming machine, and to the manual handling of the parts, an upsetting process was introduced to improve the technological features of the finished product. A logical-mathematical model was developed, verified and validated with Arena simulation software to study the cell performance in the new productive configuration. This method allowed the evaluation and experimentation of different productive scenarios, so as to verify the performance indicators, identify the operational constraints that may affect the system and evaluate alternative designs.