Semi-Automated Control Of Low Volume Production Leases

1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Standish
Keyword(s):  
Automated Control ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Low Volume

Neue Fertigungssteuerung in der Ingenieurkeramik*/New approach to manufacturing control in engineering ceramics

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (03) ◽  
pp. 109-114
Author(s):  
U. Bracht ◽  
F. Arzberger ◽  
F. Schulenburg
Keyword(s):  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Lean Production ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Manufacturing Processes ◽  
Small Companies ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Manufacturing Control ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Low Volume

Auch kleinere Unternehmen mit komplexen Herstellungsprozessen müssen heute in der Kleinserie die Effizienz und Geschwindigkeit in der Produktion erhöhen. Zentraler Bestandteil ist dabei eine schlanke Fertigungssteuerung in einem ganzheitlichen Produktionssystem. Der Fachbeitrag zeigt, wie auch bei hoher Komplexität wesentliche Ansätze der „Lean Production“ genutzt werden, um die Produktion von Ingenieurkeramiken durch die intelligente Vernetzung bereichsspezifischer Methoden zu optimieren.   Today, even small companies with complex manufacturing processes in low-volume production have to improve efficiency and speed in manufacturing. A core aspect is lean manufacturing control within an overall production system. This article shows how the main approaches of Lean Production can be applied even to a highly complex environment. The intelligent integration of specific methods for each control unit helps to enhance the production of ceramics.

Assumptions and Algorithms for Scheduling Low-Volume Production

2015 ◽  
Vol 791 ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Jacek Czajka ◽  
Mariusz Cholewa
Keyword(s):  
Production Scheduling ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Low Volume

This paper presents the concept of computer system’s module supporting production scheduling. Presented are algorithms, which realise the function and their operation is described. Based on those discussions was developed a prototype IT solution, which realises presented in this paper functions.

Challenges and opportunities to integrate the oldest and newest manufacturing processes: metal casting and additive manufacturing

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1145-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Lynch ◽  
C.R. Hasbrouck ◽  
Joseph Wilck ◽  
Michael Kay ◽  
Guha Manogharan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Metal Casting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Ecosystem ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Low Volume

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the current state, technological challenges, economic opportunities and future directions in the growing “indirect” hybrid manufacturing ecosystem, which integrates traditional metal casting with the production of tooling via additive manufacturing (AM) process including three-dimensional sand printing (3DSP) and printed wax patterns. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted among 100 participants from foundries and AM service providers across the USA to understand the current adoption of AM in metal casting as a function of engineering specifications, production demand, volume and cost metrics. In addition, current technological and logistical challenges that are encountered by the foundries are identified to gather insight into the future direction of this evolving supply chain. Findings One of the major findings from this study is that hard tooling costs (i.e. patterns/core boxes) are the greatest challenge in low volume production for foundries. Hence, AM and 3DSP offer the greatest cost-benefit for these low volume production runs as it does not require the need for hard tooling to produce much higher profit premium castings. It is evident that there are major opportunities for the casting supply chain to benefit from an advanced digital ecosystem that seamlessly integrates AM and 3DSP into foundry operations. The critical challenges for adoption of 3DSP in current foundry operations are categorized into as follows: capital cost of the equipment, which cannot be justified due to limited demand for 3DSP molds/cores by casting buyers, transportation of 3DSP molds and cores, access to 3DSP, limited knowledge of 3DSP, limitations in current design tools to integrate 3DSP design principles and long lead times to acquire 3DSP molds/cores. Practical implications Based on the findings of this study, indirect hybrid metal AM supply chains, i.e. 3DSP metal casting supply chains is proposed, as 3DSP replaces traditional mold-making in the sand casting process flow, no/limited additional costs and resources would be required for qualification and certification of the cast parts made from three-dimensional printed sand molds. Access to 3DSP resources can be addressed by establishing a robust 3DSP metal casting supply chain, which will also enable existing foundries to rapidly acquire new 3DSP-related knowledge. Originality/value This original survey from 100 small and medium enterprises including foundries and AM service providers suggests that establishing 3DSP hubs around original equipment manufacturers as a shared resource to produce molds and cores would be beneficial. This provides traditional foundries means to continue mass production of castings using existing hard tooling while integrating 3DSP for new complex low volume parts, replacement parts, legacy parts and prototyping.

scholarly journals Manufacture of 3D Curved Profiles for Structure Components

2008 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Becker ◽  
Marco Schikorra ◽  
A. Erman Tekkaya
Keyword(s):  
Material Flow ◽  
Process Integration ◽  
Extrusion Process ◽  
Lateral Deflection ◽  
Support Strategy ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
The Common ◽  
Low Volume

Curved Profile Extrusion (CPE) is an extension of the common extrusion process and offers the possibility to manufacture three-dimensionally curved profiles. Due to the flexibility of the process different curvatures can be produced with the same setup, which makes this technique efficient especially for low volume production. The process is characterized by a controlled lateral deflection of the strand which influences the material flow in the die and causes the profile curvature. In this paper, a direct comparison of the power rating between warm bending and CPE is presented. Furthermore, the investigations concerning the choice of support strategy of the surmounting profile by a robot to increase the curvature accuracy are continued. Finally, some extensions of the equipment are explained to increase the level of process integration.

scholarly journals Guide for Automation of Low Volume Production

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Löfving ◽  
Peter Almström ◽  
Caroline Jarebrant ◽  
Boel Wadman ◽  
Magnus Widfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Production Economics ◽  
Collaborative Process ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

There is a remaining need from both academia and practitioners, to gain further knowledge about the decision making process for automation of low volume production. This paper includes insights of drivers for automation, the development of a guide for low volume production and the outcome of using the guide. The research in this study is based on both empirical data and theoretical considerations. The empirical data was collected in five case studies and a questionnaire. This paper is part of a research project with the main objective to develop knowledge about how flexible automation may contribute to improvements in efficiency, ergonomics, quality and production economics in different industries with low volume production. One of the results in the project was a comprehensive guide, developed, refined and improved in an iterative collaborative process, where tools and parts of the guide were tested and verified by five manufacturing case companies. The paper describes briefly the development process of the guide and content. The requirements of the guide derived from literature, case companies, questionnaire as well as industrial experts. The resulting guide can be used in several ways, depending on the requirements of the application. The guide includes guiding principles, a decision model for the analysis of the company, choice of automation and facts about automation. In the end of the project, four companies had invested or decided to invest in different types of automation.

scholarly journals Scenario-based Cost Analysis for Vegetable Grafting Nurseries of Different Technologies and Sizes

HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 917-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myles Lewis ◽  
Chieri Kubota ◽  
Russell Tronstad ◽  
Young-Jun Son
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
High Volume ◽  
The United States ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
High Volume Production ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Low Volume

Grafting of fruiting vegetables is a relatively new advent in the United States with promise as a technology to improve both yields and the environment. However, investing in a commercial-sized grafting enterprise requires substantial capital investment and is a risky endeavor. A tool to help evaluate grafting costs for different production technologies and sizes of operation is a useful decision aid for individuals investing in new or modifying existing operations to produce grafted plants. Using a combination of engineering and financial equations, a scenario-based analysis was completed to obtain approximate capital and variable costs per plant for both new and existing production facilities. For exemplary purposes, four scenarios consisting of two different crops (tomato and watermelon) at two production sizes with different technology levels [low-volume manual grafting (one million plants per year) and high-volume fully automated grafting (100 million plants per year)] are presented to compare costs. For simplification purpose, consistent weekly production was assumed in the cost simulation. Total capital costs were $115,127 and $118,974 for low-volume production for grafted tomato and watermelon plants, respectively. They were $21.6 million and $16.7 million under high-volume production for tomato and watermelon, respectively. Among the four scenarios evaluated, variable costs per plant (costs of plants produced) were lowest for watermelons with high-volume production ($0.089 per plant), suggesting that production costs of grafted plants could decrease by scaling up production and introducing automation. Sensitivity analyses for high-volume production of tomato showed that the electricity rate, grafting clip price, and grafting robot speed were factors with the greatest influence on costs of plants. Scenario-based cost analysis was shown to be an effective tool for developing strategies to reduce the price of grafted plants.

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