Cognitive Ergonomics of Assembly Work from a Job Demands–Resources Perspective: Three Qualitative Case Studies

In manufacturing companies, cognitive processing is required from assembly workers to perform correct and timely assembly of complex products, often with varied specifications and high quality demands. This paper explores assembly operators’ perceptions of cognitive/mental workload to provide a holistic understanding of the work conditions that affect cognitive demands and performance. While the physical loading aspects of assembly work are well known, most empirical literature dealing with cognitive/mental loading in manufacturing tends to examine a few particular aspects, rather than address the issue with a holistic system view. This semi-structured interview study, involving 50 industrial assembly operators from three Swedish companies, explores how assemblers perceive that their cognitive performance and well-being is influenced by a wide variety of factors within the context of mechanical product assembly. The interview transcripts were analysed using a priori coding, followed by bottom-up Thematic Analysis. The results indicate that a variety of systemic effects on assemblers’ cognitive performance can be classified as job demands or resources. Quite often, the absence of a resource mirrors a related demand, and “good assembly conditions”, as described by the interviewees, often re-frame demands as desirable challenges that foster motivation and positive feelings towards the work. The identified demands and resources stem from task design, timing, physical loading, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, social teamwork and the product’s “interface” design. Despite organisational differences and conditions between the three companies that took part in the study, the results are largely consistent.

Computationally Assisted Retrieval and Reuse of 3D Solid Models and Assembly Work Instructions

Many manufacturing enterprises have large collections of solid models and text-based assembly processes to support assembly operations. These data are often distributed across their extended enterprise. As these enterprises expand globally, there is often an increase in product and process variability which can often lead to challenges with training, quality control, and obstacles with change management to name a few. Thus, there is a desire to increase the consistency of assembly work instructions within and across assembly locations. The objective of this research is to retrieve existing 3d models of components and assemblies and their associated assembly work instructions. This is accomplished using 3d solid model similarity and text mining of assembly work instructions. Initially, a design study was conducted in which participants authored assembly work instructions for several different solid model assemblies. Next, a geometric similarity algorithm was used to compute similarity scores between solid models and latent semantic analysis is used to compute the similarity between text-based assembly work instructions. Finally, a correlation study between solid model-assembly instruction tuples is computed. A moderately strong positive correlation was found to exist between solid model similarity scores and their associated assembly instruction similarity scores. This indicates that designs with a similar shape have a similar assembly process and thus can serve as the basis for authoring new assembly processes. This aids in resolving differences in existing processes by linking three-dimensional solid models and their associated assembly work instructions.

Pipeline design in SolidWorks

It is shown that is the program SolidWorks and what it is intended for, taking into account also that SolidWorks is a network standard for tree- dimensional solid state design. There are also tree basic system configurations, which are used depending on the class and complexity of the tasks. Application in practice of design of SolidWorks provides automatic reception of the license for use of technologies of tree- dimensional designing which allow to design and bring to the market modern innovative production. Respect for those that the SolidWorks program functions on the Windows platform has been transferred to the Russian language and on- demands DSTU and ESKD. The use of SolidWorks can significantly reduce labor costs when performing assembly work. The risibility of tree- dimensional design is fundamentally different from the usual project and allows workers to perform assembly work without contact consultation and ongoing control by engineering personnel. SolidWorks can be used for the design in various branches of mechanical engineering, construction, as well as for installation work on water supply and sewerage pipe systems. There tasks are solved using the SolidWorks Routing module, which is included in the configuration of the SolidWorks Premium and is specially designed to facilitate the design of prefabricated and bent pipelines, as well as flexible hoses. When designing plumbing equipment in pumping stations there is a task to complete the individual components and nodes of the project to obtain a tree- dimensional model in a complete form. The inclusion of pipeline equipment in a tree- dimensional model of a object allows solving many problems already at the design stage and avoiding situations when at the installation stage it is revealed, that the pipes are incorrectly bent and interfere with the operation of other system nodes, or there is little free space in the created structure for saying all the necessary communications. Using the SolidWorks Routing program makes it possible to optimally and compactly place water and sewer pipes indoors, prevent them from crossing and quickly get accurate data on the needs for materials and components. Indicates additional modules, which can also be used witch the SolidWorks program to facilitate the design work on the boring and bent pipelines, flexible lines and communications.

Using workstation design parameters to predict workload - A proactive assessment approach for light assembly work

Using workstation design parameters to predict workload - A proactive assessment approach for light assembly work

Using workstation design parameters to predict workload - A proactive assessment approach for light assembly work

Using workstation design parameters to predict workload - A proactive assessment approach for light assembly work

THE RESEARCH ON THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS PRODUCTIVITY USING COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS

The article investigates the possibility of increasing the productivity of assembly operations in instrument making with collaborative robots. One of the reasons for the loss of time during assembly work is the performance by a human worker of actions that are not useful. The implementation of the «man-cobot» interface using inexpensive sensors: a gyroscope and an accelerometer, mounted on the wrists of a human worker described.