The design of electronic assembly facilities using the DRAMA methodology

The paper presented by the authors (1988) at the Factory 2000 Conference described the design of a modular assembly cascade system for the assembly of mainframe and minicomputer products within ICL´s Ashton-under-Lyne factory near Manchester, UK. Details were also provided of a related three year Science and Engineering Research Council project, funded under its `ACME´ Directorate. The present paper outlines the findings of the project and describes the basic concepts of the process design methodology which forms the major output from the research. This methodology, called the `design routine for adopting modular assembly´ (DRAMA), provides a set of guiding principles for organizations concerned with high variety electronics production who wish to implement the principles of `cascade pull´ and modularity. The DRAMA methodology is now contained within a manual; the contents and structure of which are also described