Devisal of a training method for assembly work by employing parts preparation operation with a kitting-tray designed based on relationships between parts

This paper focuses on products such as office machines that involve many manual assembly procedures. A training method in which a trainee assembles and disassembles a product and prepares the parts onto a kitting-tray is proposed. The design of the kitting-tray is based on the relationship between parts. A design step for the kitting-tray, which applies the systematic layout planning method, is presented. A kitting-tray is then made by following the design step. Through experiments where a wooden motorcycle model is assembled, the proposed training method is compared to a typical training method. From experimental results, it can be seen that the proposed training promotes faster learning than the typical training. Secondly, speed in recollecting work procedures and assembly motions are still retained seven days after training. Finally, the proposed training enhances memorizing of the product structure and retention of the memory.