Izquierdo, L. E., Hu, S. Jack, Du, Hao, Jin, Ran, Jee, Haeseong and Shi, Jianjun (2009) Robust fixture layout design for a product family assembled in a multistage reconfigurable line. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Vol.131 (No.4). Article no. 041008. doi:10.1115/1.3123320

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Abstract

Reconfigurable assembly systems enable a family of products to be assembled in a single system by adjusting and reconfiguring fixtures according to each product. The sharing of fixtures among different products impacts their robustness to fixture variation due to trade offs in fixture design (to allow the accommodation of the family in the single system) and to frequent reconfigurations. This paper proposes a methodology to achieve robustness of the fixture layout design through an optimal distribution of the locators in a multistation assembly system for a product family. This objective is accomplished by (1) the use of a multistation assembly process model for the product family, and (2) minimizing the combined sensitivity of the products to fixture variation. The optimization considers the feasibility of the locator layout by taking into account the constraints imposed by the different products and the processes (assembly sequence, data scheme, and reconfigurable tools' workspace). A case study where three products are assembled in four stations is presented. The sensitivity of the optimal layout was benchmarked against the ones obtained using dedicated assembly lines for each product. This comparison demonstrates that the proposed approach does not significantly sacrifice robustness while allowing the assembly of all products in a single reconfigurable line.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TS Manufactures T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering
Publisher:	A S M E International
ISSN:	1087-1357
Official Date:	August 2009
Dates:	Date Event August 2009 Published
Volume:	Vol.131
Number:	No.4
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	Article no. 041008
DOI:	10.1115/1.3123320
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	General Motors Collaborative Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan, Korean Research Foundation
Grant number:	KRF-2005-013-D00005

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