Production Systems I

The course is a basic course in the area of production. It links the following subareas into a system: Sustainability, organisation, layout and flow, production logistics, production preparation, production economy, and quality assurance methods. The aim of the course is for students to acquire knowledge of the various components to get a holistic perspective on the processes of a modern production system. The course starts with a unit on the role of industrial companies in society and how production is organised in an historical perspective. The influence of industry production on the environment is treated. In the unit The control and organisation of the production system, the production processes and layout design are treated with a special emphasis on material flows and principles of flow. The logistics area includes stock inventory, batch sizing, and materials planning. The basics of lean production are studied on the basis of values, principles, and methods in Toyota's production system. A laboratory session is carried out in Karlstad Lean factory for a practical example of lean theory. Basic computer exercises focused on production simulation linked to different flow principles are included. The economy of the production system is treated in terms of models to describe the company in economic terms, especially regarding product calculation. Capital binding is discussed in connection with layout, flow and planning principles. Improvement strategies are treated in the unit The quality and development of the production system. Systematic improvement is a feature of quality assurance and quality planning. Instruction is in the form of lectures and practical exercises.