Kerstin Dencker

Measuring and analysing Levels of Automation in an assembly system

The level of automation employed in semi-automated assembly systems is crucial, both to system performance and cost. This paper presents a methodology to enable selection of the right Level of Automation. The method thoroughly maps existing product and information flows as well as the automation level in separate parts of the system. It then analyses and identifies future automation possibilities, i.e. the automation potential seen from an industrial perspective. Further development of the method is based on validations and industrial case studies.

From Flexibility to Evolvability: ways to achieve self-reconfigurability and full-autonomy

From Flexibility to Evolvability : ways to achieve Self-Reconfigurability and Full-Autonomy

Validation of the complexity index method at three manufacturing companies

In order to manage increasing numbers of product variants, tools that can reduce or manage production complexity are vital. The paper describes CompleXity Index (CXI), an index-based method and tool that assess the complexity at an industrial workstation. CXI was validated at three Swedish manufacturing companies investigating how different roles affect the index calculation and if the method measures what was intended. In all three cases, CXI was seen as a useful tool that provided a holistic view of the problems seen at a station. In addition it was indicated that complexity and unbalanced work was connected and that the method could be used to predict problem areas on new stations.

Characteristic of a Proactive Assembly System

Competitive assembly systems must cope with frequent demand changes, requiring drastically shortened resetting and ramp-up times. Characteristics of assembly systems capable of rapid change are e.g. Flexibility; Robustness, Agility, and ability to handle frequent changes and disturbances. This paper proposes proactivity as a vital factor of semi-automated assembly systems to increase speed of change. Proactive systems utilize the full potential of human operators and technical systems. Such systems have ability to dynamically change system automation levels, resulting in decrease of time consumed for assembly tasks. Proactivity criteria for assembly systems are reviewed based on theory and industrial case studies

A model for assessment of proactivity potential in technical resources

The ultimate aim when designing an assembly system is to make it strategically and operationally competitive. Competitive systems for manufacturing, especially assembly systems, have to cope with frequent changes of demands. The aim to have a short response time to customer demand, e.i. mass customization, requires assembly systems that are reliable, have high availability and have ability to produce the right product correctly. This means a combination of short resetting time and ability to vary the systems output of products. A major challenge is to minimize the lead-time that directly has influence on order-to-delivery time, while maintaining product flexibility and robustness to absorb late market changes. Given that the assembly system is working the way it is supposed to do, the order-to-delivery time is directly dependant on the setup time and the operation time. The problem is that automated assembly systems have a low availability due to that technical equipment does not work, caused by lack of knowledge, breakdowns, limited ability to perform the operation etc. This often leeds to that when a company needs variant flexibility they keep the assembly system tasks manual. Totally manual assembly system is not the future for competitiveness. Therefore we need to develop assembly systems that are available and have product flexibility to absorb late market changes, and still have a short order-to delivery time. This paper focuses on the level of automation and is a contribution to future evaluation of how technical solutions either support or work counter to proactivity. The result is a model for evaluation of technical solutions contribution to proactivity This paper describes a model for assessment of technology and assembly system solutions that fulfil requirements for a proactive assembly system. Criteria for proactivity in different technical solutions of assembly system are reviewed.

Assembly Work Settings Enabling Proactivity - Information Requirements

Information is a critical factor to support a proactive behaviour of operators in complex work settings characterized by flexible levels of automation and need for knowledge-based decision making. In this conceptual paper the authors define proactive behaviour as the ability of operators to control a situation by taking action in advance. Information requirements that enable proactivity and different control behaviour are identified. Moreover, several demands on the information support system are outlined. Further, the paper presents some implications for management as a result of the new work role of the operator regarding decision making, planning, and control.