Standardize and use common parts and materials.

Standardize and use common parts and materials to facilitate design activities, to minimize the amount of inventory in the system, and to standardize handling and assembly operations. Common parts will result in lower inventories, reduced costs and higher quality. Operator learning is simplified and there is a greater opportunity for automation as the result of higher production volumes and operation standardization. Limit exotic or unique components because suppliers are less likely to compete on quality or cost for these components. Group technology (GT) and Component Supplier Management (CSM) systems can be utilized by designers to facilitate retrieval of similar designs and material catalogs or approved parts lists can serve as references for common purchased and stocked parts. GT can also be used to guide in the development of manufacturing cells for common part or product families, thereby minimizing inventory and providing improved effectiveness through manufacturing focus.