The implementation of manufacturing concepts in a non-traditional manufacturing environment.

This thesis is the result of a two year Teaching Company Programme between Middlesex University and Tony Stone Images in which basic manufacturing philosophy has been applied to an arts based Company.
Various techniques were used including flowcharts, a production simulation package and a critical path analysis to determine the production lead time of a photographic transparency to three possible destinations. On identifying the processes involved a series of smaller projects were undertaken to remove the non-value adding elements. In some cases this resulted in some quite large changes occurring in the Company; one being to move departmental locations in the building to better reflect the flow of work through the organisation.
Once improvements had been made a System was installed which allows accurate tracking of the images through the processes in terms of their volume, location and routing history. This has provided valuable information on image processing by giving a more realistic figure for production lead time rather than the senior managers relying on a 'best guess' for each department. The System became known as the Workflow System and its development and installation was divided into two phases. This thesis covers phase one.
One of the most important issues arising from the project is the fact that the Company has grown so rapidly over the last few years it has become unable to change culture and operating policy to meet the demands of the customer or competition. The conflict between image quality and image volume needs to be conquered in order to allow production to be more scientifically measured and controlled to provide an efficient manufacturing lead time to satisfy market needs. The Workflow System has provided the foundations upon which this measurement and control can be built.

A thesis submitted to Middlesex University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy.
March 1997