Method for manufacturing products according to customer orders

A method for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the method comprising:

• collecting components at a kitting facility for a product ordered by a customer;
• transporting the components from the kitting facility to a build cell;
• assembling, configuring, and testing the components in the build cell to form the product, wherein:
• the operation of assembling comprises assembling the components at a build station of the build cell;
• and
• the operation of configuring comprises configuring the assembled components at a burn station of the build cell;
• transporting the assembled components to a finishing tray of the finishing station, via a finishing conveyor;
• transforming the assembled components into the product at a finishing station of the build cell;
• transporting the product from the finishing tray to a transportation device, via an exit conveyor, for removal to a transportation system;
• after transporting the product from the finishing tray to the transportation device, transporting the product on the transportation device in a primarily vertical direction, for delivery to the transportation system;
• transporting the product to a boxing facility;
• and
• packaging the product at the boxing facility.

A method for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the method comprising:

• collecting components at a kitting facility for a product ordered by a customer;
• transporting the components from the kitting facility to a build cell via an incoming conveyor that is aligned generally vertically with an outgoing conveyor that transports assembled components from the build cell to a boxing facility;
• assembling the components in the build cell;
• installing software into the assembled components in the build cell;
• performing extended testing on the assembled components in the build cell;
• transporting the assembled components to the boxing facility;
• and
• packaging the assembled components at the boxing facility.

A method for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the method comprising:

• collecting components at a kitting facility for a product ordered by a customer;
• transporting the components from the kitting facility to a build cell;
• assembling the components in the build cell;
• installing software into the assembled components in the build cell;
• performing extended testing on the assembled components in the build cell;
• transporting the assembled components to a boxing facility;
• and
• packaging the assembled components at the boxing facility;
• wherein sets of components for at least two build cells are received from a transportation system, via one receiving apparatus;
• and
• wherein, after the components have been assembled and tested in the build cell, the receiving apparatus transports the product from the build cell to the transportation system, for delivery to the boxing facility.