A method to assess design complexity of modular automatic assembly system in design phase

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixiong Feng ◽  
Chuan He ◽  
Yicong Gao ◽  
Hao Zheng ◽  
Jianrong Tan

Purpose To find the system with minimum investment and best quality performance that is capable of producing all of the product variants, assessing the complexity of designing assembly system at the early concept stage is an essential step, which helps and instructs a designer to create a product- and system-oriented assembly solution with the least complexity. The purpose of this paper is to propose a quantifying measurement of complexity in the design of a modular automated assembly system. Design/methodology/approach The configurable assembly system is becoming a trend, which enables companies to quickly respond to changes caused by different product variants but without a large investment. One of the enabling factors is the availability of modular solutions of assembly modules that can be configured according to different technical requirements. This paper develops a methodology using fuzzy evaluation to calculate the design complexity in the design phase for a modular automatic assembly system. Fuzzy linguistic variables are used to measure the interaction among the influence factors, to deal with the uncertainty of the judgement. The proposed method investigates three matrices to present how the function-based assembly modules, design complexity factors, part attributes and product components, which are regarded as the main influence factors, complicate the construction of a modular assembly system. The design complexity is derived and quantified based on these assessments. Findings The proposed approach presents a formal quantification to evaluate the design complexity with regard to a modular assembly system from beginning, which can be identified and used as criteria to indicate the quality of performance and investment cost in advance. A mathematical model based on the fuzzy logic is established to provide both theoretical and practical guidance for the paper. To validate the predictive model, the statistic relationships between the assessed system design complexity, real assembly defect rate and investment cost are estimated based on regression analysis. The application of the presented methodology is demonstrated with regard to a traditional rear drive unit in the automotive industry. Originality/value This paper presents a developed method, which addresses the measures of complexity found in the design of a modular assembly system. It would help to run the design process with better resource allocation and cost estimation in a quantitative approach.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 664-672
Author(s):  
Pedro Ferreira ◽  
Paul Danny Anandan ◽  
Ivo Pereira ◽  
Vikrant Hiwarkar ◽  
Mohmed Sayed ◽  
...  

Purpose This paper aims to provide a service-based integrated prototype framework for the design of reusable modular assembly systems (RMAS) incorporating reusability of equipment into the process. It extends AutomationML (AML) developments for an engineering data exchange to integrate and standardize the data formats that support the design of RMAS. Design/methodology/approach The approach provides a set of systematic procedures and support tools for the design of RMAS. This includes enhanced domain knowledge models that facilitate the interpretation and integration of information across the design phases. Findings The inclusion of reusability aspects in the design phase improves the sustainability of future assembly systems, by ensuring equipment use until its end-of-life. Moreover, the integrated support tools reduce the design time, while improving the quality/performance of the system design solution, as it enables the exploration of a larger solution space. This will result in a better response to dynamic and rapidly changing system requirements. Social implications This work provides a sustainable approach for the design of modular assembly systems (MAS), which will ensure better resource utilization. Additionally, the standardization of the data and the support of low cost tools is expected to benefit industrial companies, particularly the small- and medium-sized enterprises. Originality/value This approach offers a service-based platform which uses production data to incorporate reusability aspects into the design process of modular assembly system. Moreover, it provides a framework for modular assembly system design by extending the current design processes and interactions between stakeholders. To support this, a standardized method for information representation and exchange across the several phases of the RMAS design activity is briefly illustrated with an industrial case study.


ROBOT ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 589
Author(s):  
Dechun ZHENG ◽  
Yongping ZHANG ◽  
Guojun LI

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaokuang Li ◽  
Li Ling ◽  
Juan Wu ◽  
Peng Li

Purpose – The paper is aimed to obtain a clear understanding of influence factors that can increase the possibility to be business angels (BA). Design/methodology/approach – This study develops the 3A model in the Chinese context to design questionnaire, and 334 questionnaires are obtained via focus group sample and targeted snowball approach, and the multinomial logit analysis is used to test a serious of hypotheses. Findings – The paper confirmed that the entrepreneurial experience and wealth are determinants of investment for potential BA, and the wealth have both directly and indirectly positive influence on investment activity through risk preference, namely that richer people prefer risk which impel them to invest as BA. Research limitations/implications – There are two limitations in the paper: first, the macro environment in China has not been taken into consideration in the model; second, the source of the sample focuses on the developed cities in the middle and eastern of China, only reflect the characteristic of angels in these areas, which may somewhat diverges from the reality. Practical implications – The paper would contribute to form the policy which could promote the development of angel investment in China. Originality/value – This paper conducts a preliminary exploration of the factors that have impact on Chinese BA' investment activity based on current research.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lim Sanny ◽  
Verencia Angelina ◽  
Bernando Budi Christian

Purpose Small-medium enterprise (SME) service industry is an industry that continues to experience growth in developed and developing countries, including Indonesia. SME service industry that engaged in the service industry, namely, rental for generator set, air conditioner and sound system. In recent years, this SME has been experienced in declining in sales and getting some complaints from their customers. Many studies suggest that service quality and customer satisfaction are the key factors in the service industry. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the quality of service based on the customer’s perspective. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected using a combination of literature review, interview, brainstorming and questionnaires and analyzed by using importance-performance analysis (IPA) and quality function deployment (QFD) model. Findings This research resulted in nine technical requirements that allow the company to focus on these attributes to help the company enhance its customer satisfaction. Practical implications Based on the theory, applying service quality, IPA and also QFD will result in customer satisfaction. Practically the enhancement in customer satisfaction is not as easy as expected. Nowadays, customers always expect more and more and it is impossible to fully captured customers’ needs and always satisfy customers. Nevertheless, for this research company can understand their customers better, companies can evaluate their performances based on the customers’ perspective and know their customers’ needs. The company also know their strengths and weaknesses to allocate the resources and maximize their potential. Last but not least, the company is able to know their strategic priority that needs to be done for their better performance in the future to fulfill their customers’ needs and hope to enhance their customer satisfaction Originality/value A lot of research about customer satisfaction but still limited especially in the service industry in Indonesia using a combination of IPA and QFD model. So this research will give benefit for SMEs in Indonesia to allocate their resources more effectively by looking at the results of the four quadrants of IPA and house of quality (HOQ) framework can be used for a company as the references for their priority strategic option. Yet, to keep improving, the company recommended reviewing HOQ periodically.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Bodendorf ◽  
Manuel Lutz ◽  
Stefan Michelberger ◽  
Joerg Franke

Purpose Cost transparency is of central importance to reach a consensus between supply chain partners. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the instrument of cost analysis which supports the link between buyers and suppliers. Design/methodology/approach Based on a detailed literature review in the area of cost analysis and purchasing, intelligent decision support systems for cost estimation are identified. Subsequently, expert interviews are conducted to determine the application possibilities for managers. The application potential is derived from the synthesis of motivation, identified applications and challenges in the industry. Management recommendations are to be derived by bringing together scientific and practical approaches in the industry. Findings On the one hand, the results of this study show that machine learning (ML) is a complex technology that poses many challenges for cost and purchasing managers. On the other hand, ML methods, especially in combination with expert knowledge and other analytical methods, offer immense added value for cost analysis in purchasing. Originality/value Digital transformation allows to facilitate the cost calculation process in purchasing decisions. In this context, the application of ML approaches has gained increased attention. While such approaches can lead to high cost reductions on the side of both suppliers and buyers, an intelligent cost analysis is very demanding.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1508-1518
Author(s):  
Rosembergue Pereira Souza ◽  
Luiz Fernando Rust da Costa Carmo ◽  
Luci Pirmez

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a procedure for finding unusual patterns in accredited tests using a rapid processing method for analyzing video records. The procedure uses the temporal differencing technique for object tracking and considers only frames not identified as statistically redundant. Design/methodology/approach An accreditation organization is responsible for accrediting facilities to undertake testing and calibration activities. Periodically, such organizations evaluate accredited testing facilities. These evaluations could use video records and photographs of the tests performed by the facility to judge their conformity to technical requirements. To validate the proposed procedure, a real-world data set with video records from accredited testing facilities in the field of vehicle safety in Brazil was used. The processing time of this proposed procedure was compared with the time needed to process the video records in a traditional fashion. Findings With an appropriate threshold value, the proposed procedure could successfully identify video records of fraudulent services. Processing time was faster than when a traditional method was employed. Originality/value Manually evaluating video records is time consuming and tedious. This paper proposes a procedure to rapidly find unusual patterns in videos of accredited tests with a minimum of manual effort.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salihudin Hassim ◽  
Ratnasamy Muniandy ◽  
Aidi Hizami Alias ◽  
Pedram Abdullah

Purpose The pre-tender estimation process is still a hazy and inaccurate process, despite it has been practiced over decades, especially in Malaysia. The methods evolved over time largely depend on the amount of information available at the time of estimation. More often than not, the estimate produced during the pre-tender stage is far more than the tender cost of the project and sometimes, it is perilously underestimated and caused major problems to the client in the monetary planning. The purpose of this paper is to determine the most influential factors on the deviation of pre-tender cost estimation in Malaysia by conducting a survey. Design/methodology/approach Fuzzy logic, combined with artificial neural network method (fuzzy neural network) was then used to develop an estimating model to aid the pre-tender estimation process. Findings The results showed that the model is able to shift the cost estimation toward accuracy. This model can be used to improve the pre-tender estimation accuracy, enabling the client to take the necessary early measures in preparing the funding for a building project in Malaysia. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on tender price estimation standardization for a construction project in Malaysia. In addition, the authors have used factors from literature for the model, which shows the thoroughness of the developed model. Thus, the findings and the model developed in this study should be able to assist contractors in coming out with a more accurate tender price estimation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Zhizhong ◽  
Han Chao ◽  
Guosheng Huang ◽  
Han Bin ◽  
Han Bin

Purpose The deposition of particles onto a substrate during the cold spraying (CS) process relies on severe plastic deformation, so there are various micro-defects induced by insufficient deformation and severe crushing. To solve the problems, many post-treat techniques have been used to improving the quality by eliminating the micro-defects. This paper aims to help scholars and engineers in this field a better and systematic understand of CS technology by summarizing the post-treatment technologies that have been investigated recently years. Design/methodology/approach This review summarizes the types of micro-defects and introduces the effect of micro-defects on the properties of CS coating/additive manufactured, illustrates the post-treatment technologies and its effect on the microstructure and performances, and finally outlooks the future development trends of post-treatments for CS. Findings There are significant discoveries in post-treatment technology to change the performance of cold spray deposits. There are also many limitations for post-treatment methods, including improved performance and limitations of use. Thus, there is still a strong requirement for further improvement. Hybrid post-treatment may be a more ideal method, as it can eliminate more defects than a single method. The proposed ultrasonic impact treatment could be an alternative method, as it can densify and flatten the CS deposits. Originality/value It is the first time to reveal the influence factors on the performances of CS deposits from the perspective of microdefects, and proposed corresponding well targeted post-treatment methods, which is more instructive for improving the performances of CS deposits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Bahodir Hasanov ◽  
◽  
Farangiz Kenjaeva ◽  

The article examines the influence of technological features of enterprises on the classification and assessment of costs, as well as on the calculation of production costs in management accounting.Scientific proposals and practical recommendations for ensuring financial stability are given as a result of the analysisof the technical and economic state of the enterprise.Кеуwords:Technological processes, technical requirements, rationing, classification of costs, cost estimation, cost calculation


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