Assembly

Robot-Based Assembly Automation in Mid-Sized Companies

Robot-Based Assembly Automation in Mid-Sized Companies

Obstacles, drivers and implications
Aaron Zinßer, Fabian Diefenbach ORCID Icon, Arik Lämmle ORCID Icon
Production automation is well established in large companies for high volume products. But robot-based assembly automation in mid-sized companies is still in its infancy. This study uses results from 19 expert interviews and a survey to identify obstacles to and drivers of automation in this field. Among the obstacles is the low flexibility of the robotic systems. One driver for automation is the increasing shortage of skilled workers. Based on the empirical findings, the study proposes options to increase the use of automation.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 4 | Pages 21-24 | DOI 10.30844/IM_23-4_21-24
Decentralized Tact Time Control in Assembly

Decentralized Tact Time Control in Assembly

Simplifying robust control of assembly lines via the I4.0 box
Sander Lass, Tim Körppen
In theory, decentralized control approaches in the manufacturing context offer several advantages over monolithic centralized systems where all functions are combined into one or into several authorities. However, practical implementation requires adaptation of the general concept of decentralization to fit individual and specific use cases, especially with regard to their sensible scope. One such use case is the assembly of high-variation products. This article shows the appropriate combination of centralized and decentralized approaches can be leveraged to achieve better planning and increased throughput in manufacturing. With flexible cycle control for work stations and suitable assistance at the assembly workstation, the previous shop-floor oriented organization style can be transformed into a series-like manufacturing process. This is done using a multi-layered infrastructure that follows the Industry 4.0 paradigm of decentralized information processing through autonomous ...
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 1 | Pages 34-40 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.23.1.34
Concept for a Modular, Reconfigurable Assembly System

Concept for a Modular, Reconfigurable Assembly System

Increased flexibility through reconfiguration at various production levels
Jasper Wilhelm, Nils Hoppe, Michael Freitag ORCID Icon
Companies must increase their flexibility and enable high product customization and variety to meet market demands. In assembly, this requires a large number of special machines, which leads to high investments and space requirements. This paper presents a concept for a modular, reconfigurable assembly system that allows unrestricted connection of individual modules. It is shown how such a system can be located in the RAMI4.0 framework and fulfills changeability requirements on different production levels. (Only in German)
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 38 | 2022 | Edition 4 | Pages 33-37
A Self-Learning Assistance System for Industrial Robots

A Self-Learning Assistance System for Industrial Robots

Gestenbasierte Programmierung von skillbasierten Robotersystemen in der Montage
Ulrich Berger, Marlon Lehmann, Ronny Porsch
In the project ARAS (Advanced Robot Assistance Solution) a robot programming assistant was developed, which allows for automated generation of robot programs for assembly processes. By using a multimodal approach for human-machine-interaction, assembly steps are recognized with machine learning algorithms while a worker is showing the robot how an assembly process is performed. Afterwards, a robot program is generated automatically. This way, new robot programs are created within minutes without the user having any knowledge about programming or robotics.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 37 | 2021 | Edition 6 | Pages 23-26
Human-Centered Assistance Systems

Human-Centered Assistance Systems

Systematic evaluation of assembly assistance systems
Dennis Keiser, Christoph Petzoldt, Thies Beinke, Michael Freitag ORCID Icon, Henning Vogler
The employee remains a key productivity element in industrial assembly. Assembly assistance systems have therefore become an integral part of employee support. This paper presents a novel assistance system that complements process-related assistance with human-centered functionalities. In addition, an approach for the systematic evaluation of assembly assistance systems is presented in this paper. The research is based on an evaluation of the current state of the art through systematic market analysis of available assembly assistance systems.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 37 | 2021 | Edition 3 | Pages 11-15
Adaptive Assistance Systems

Adaptive Assistance Systems

Answer to complex production processes and heterogeneous workforces
Tina Haase, Dirk Berndt, Evelyn Fischer, Michael Schenk
The article presents design approaches and methods for the implementation of adaptive assistance systems and shows the influence of different operational roles on the design process. A user-adaptive and context-sensitive design makes it possible to adapt the contents and the presentation to the requirements of the user and to the task. We present a systematic approach that shows the design dimensions based on individual and task-related categories. We supplement this systematic with design dimensions of an assistance system including the technology selection as well as the design.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 36 | 2020 | Edition 3 | Pages 25-28
Design of Collaborative HRC Workplaces

Design of Collaborative HRC Workplaces

Hinweise für die Planung von kollaborativen Arbeitsplätzen an einem Beispiel der Metabowerke GmbH
Wilhelm Bauer, Peter Rally, Oliver Scholtz, Marc Wenzelburger
In human-robot collaboration (HRC), in which the employee works next to the robot - as is often the case in the previously purely manual assembly - the cost effectiveness of HRC application is often difficult to represent. Therefore, in the design of HRC applications, the focus in the first planning phase is on ensuring economic efficiency. In the ROKOKO research project, the involved partners developed a simple method for estimating the required total investment. The planning of a HRC application case at the company Metabowerke GmbH using the new method is the subject of this article.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 36 | 2020 | Edition 2 | Pages 47-51
Dynamically Interconnected Assembly Systems

Dynamically Interconnected Assembly Systems

Order Planning and Information Provision for the New Assembly Organization
Dennis Grunert, Pascal Lettmann, Paolo Löffler, Guido Hüttemann, Robert Schmitt ORCID Icon
Short product lifecycles, customer-specific products and high flexibility: Producing companies are facing the challenge that their production systems must meet constantly increasing requirements. Traditional, static interlinked production systems are increasingly reaching their limits. There is a need for a new form of assembly organization, the so-called dynamically interconnected assembly.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 35 | 2019 | Edition 1 | Pages 35-38
Industrial Robots for SMEs – Flexible and Intuitive Process Specifications

Industrial Robots for SMEs - Flexible and Intuitive Process Specifications

Flexible und intuitive Prozessbeschreibung
Markus Rickert, Alexander Perzylo
The requirements of industrial production have drastically changed in the past. Mass production has been the predominant approach for decades, but there is a growing demand for individualized goods. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) deal with small lot sizes and even single-item production. These companies have very demanding requirements for robot deployment. Programming robots must be time efficient and not require specific expertise in robotics, so that shop floor workers can use them. In this article, we introduce a knowledge-based approach to address these issues.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 32 | 2016 | Edition 2 | Pages 46-49
Technologies for Flexible, Robotized Automation

Technologies for Flexible, Robotized Automation

Wirtschaftliche Automatisierungslösungen (nicht nur) für kleine und mittlere Produktionsgrößen
Björn Kahl, Tim Bodenmüller, Alexander Kuss
Future factories in digitized industries will require highly versatile automation systems. Seamless human-robot collaboration, utilizing the strengths of both, combined with advanced machine perception and automated planning are key factors for success in a world of “mass customized” products and increasingly faster product changes. Two examples, in welding and assembly, show advanced planning, sensing and human-robot collaboration technologies and discuss their benefits.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 32 | 2016 | Edition 2 | Pages 11-14
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