Introduction
The production line refers to a set of sequential operations launched in a factory whereby the raw materials are passed via the refining process to produce tissue that is suitable to be used in institutions, households, and industries. The article by Ishakawa and Hirasawa (2012) describes how printing and aqueous lotion chemicals can be applied to improve the quality of tissue papers. Furthermore, the article by Abdulmalek and Rajgopal (2007) look deep on the benefits accrued from lean manufacturing and how they can benefit manufacturing companies. The paper will comprehensively address the production line, its ways, and advantages as illustrated in the article.
Article 1
The article by Ishakawa &Hirasawa (2012) “Toilet paper production method and toilet paper” highlights the use of printing and applying aqueous lotion chemicals onto extended crepe paper by a printer to make tissue papers. The article illustrates how the embossing convex parts are conveyed into press-contact only to the non-chemical-application sections of the continuous crepe paper in order to emboss the continuous crepe paper.
Ishakawa &Hirasawa (2012) view that the tissue paper production line necessitates raw materials such as water, bleaches, new or recycled papers, oxygen, ozone, and peroxide. The machines involved in the tissue production are core making machine, core gluing machine, rewinding tool, jumbo reel winding equipment, embossing machine, band saw cutter and perforating machine. The first manufacturing process involves the chemical using a procedure of printing and consuming aqueous lotion chemicals onto extended crepe paper by a printer. An outline with non-chemical application sections and chemical portions is reached on the elongated crepe paper.
Ishakawa &Hirasawa (2012) addresses that the second procedure encompasses the impression cylinder conducting the embossing practice as well as taking the role of the backing role. The third step involves the chemicals-applications device detector sensing the chemical applications positions of the crepe paper. In case that the results are contrary to the expected, the emboss positions are adjusted. The fourth step encompasses the chemicals application portions being organized in a normal pattern of a net figure. Another step necessitates the manufacturer to ensure that the total area is approximately 30%-70% of the total area of a paper plane.
In the embossing unit, Ishakawa &Hirasawa (2012) perceive that the embossing convex portions are arranged with an opening between the concentration of the embossing convex portions and area of one embossing convex portions in a plan structure. Another key step involves ensuring that the convex portions possess the appearance of a chamfered tetragon. Furthermore, the embossing convex portions are arranged in both parallel and upright directions. Finally, the embossing convex portions are pressed only on one side of the elongated crepe paper. This persistent exertion of the pressure on the embossing crepe paper ensures that the occurrence of the concave embossed portions is in alignment to the concave embossed portions on the other phase of the toilet paper. The advantages of these type of tissue production process involves the production of high quality tissue papers. The tissue papers compose of thick tissue rolls that are quite durable. Additionally, the tissue production process is less sophisticated compared to the other methods.
Article 2
The article by Abdulmalek and Rajgopal (2007), “Analyzing the benefits of lean manufacturing and value stream mapping via simulation” provides insight into the production lines, its ways and the advantages accrued in the process. The authors shed light on the lean approach and how it has been applied in the manufacturing process. From the article, we learn that the managers from the process sector have been reluctant to apply the lean approach because of its perceived barriers. The lean approach can be used in both the manufacturing and the process sector. Abdulmalek and Rajgopal (2007) describes lean principles that were applied to a large integrated steel mill. In the process, value stream mapping helped to pinpoint the opportunities that emerge from lean techniques. The research study identified that the simulation model where the lean approach was applied helped the organization to benefit from the lean approach. The model analyzed and contrasted the situation before and after the scenarios in a comprehensive manner. The results illustrated that company that applied the lean approach in the production line benefits from reduced production lead-time and lesser work-in-process inventory.
Lean manufacturing helps firms to remain relevant in the highly competitive market. Abdulmalek and Rajgopal (2007) has argued how it helps the organization to cut costs because of its ability to eliminate the non-value added activities. Lean manufacturing is based on various tools and techniques. For instance, believes in the Just-in-Time (JIT) philosophy, total productive maintenance, cellular manufacturing, and the single-minute exchange of dies. The applications mentioned above are useful in various fields’ e.g. automotive, white goods, electronics, and consumer products manufacturing.
The lean approach can help tissue manufacturing companies to reduce waste in the production process. Also, the companies will benefit from better inventory control, improved financial and operational control, and improve the quality of the product (Abdulmalek and Rajgopal, 2007). The value stream mapping is a tool of lean manufacturing that has the capacity to determine the areas of waste, and this helps the company to avoid the wastage during the tissue production process. Therefore, managers should be ready to adopt the lean approach because of the numerous benefits associated with its application. In a tissue paper production line, many important steps will be improved if the lean manufacturing step is applied in the process.
Conclusion
As expounded above, the two articles, Abdulmalek and Rajgopal (2007) on “lean manufacturing” and Ishakawa and Hirasawa (2012) on “Toilet paper production method and toilet paper” illustrate how tissue paper production line works. Moreover, the raw materials of tissue paper production are oxygen, ozone, peroxide, water and bleaches. The easiness of the two tissue manufacturing process disclose the benefits attached to them.
References
Abdulmalek, F. A., & Rajgopal, J. (2007). Analyzing the benefits of lean manufacturing and value stream mapping via simulation: A process sector case study. International Journal of production economics, 107(1), 223-236
Ishikawa, Shigeo, and Akira Hirasawa (2012) "Toilet paper production method and toilet paper." U.S. Patent Application No. 14/002,065
