Posted Date:
30 Jan 2013 |Updated:
30-Jan-2013 |Category: Mechanical Projects |Author: Jebaprincy |Member Level: Gold |Points: 30 |
Are you searching 10 strategies involved in automation? This article describes the important points for automation needed for Computer Integrated Manufacturing System. These strategies are used to improve process as well. Go through the article below to catch those important points.
Introduction
Today manufacturing Industries want to automize their processes to increase their productivity to meet the ever increasing demand in the market. Automation becomes unnecessary after the process has been simplified. When it is found to be feasible solution for improved performance, quality and productivity, it is needed to study about the ten strategies that will give a road map for any manufacturing organization. The 10 points are given below:Specialization of operations
Some special purpose machines or equipments are used to perform particular operation with highest possible efficiency. This is employed to utilize the specialization of labour and improve the labour productivity.Combined operations
Production of parts is obtained in a sequence of operations. Several processing steps are required for complex parts. Combined operations eliminate or reduce the processing steps. Just reducing the number of distinct production machines results better. That is, more than one operation are carried out in a given machine so that number of separate machines needed are reduced considerably. By this strategies set up time for each machine can be reduced as much.Apart from this, Ideal time, non operation time, material handling time and production lead time are also reduced.Simultaneous operations
The operations combined in one particular workstations are carried out simultaneously to reduce the total processing time. This will result in greater increase in productivity. This is very common logical strategies in every industries. Assembly operations can also be done using this strategies.Integration of operations
Intergration means linking several workstations together into a single integrated mechanism to tranfer parts between them by automatic material handling system. The products are easily scheduled and several parts are processed at a time, thereby resulting in greater increase in overall output of the system.Increased flexibility
Flexibility plays important role in a manufacturing system. Use of flexible automation concept is followed here. That when needed, variety of products or parts are processed in a single machine. Here the maximum utilization of equipments is done. The important and primary objective of this strategy is to reduce setup time as much as possible. Less work in process can also be achieved.Improved material handling and storage
Automated material handling is adopted for reducing non-productive time here. Other benefits included are less work in process and shorter manufacturing lead time.Online inspection
After the process is completed, inspection can be performed for measuring quality of work. Any poor quality product is found in this strategy and is processed and again inspected to find improvement on it. Online inspection means that poor quality product is inspected regularly to eliminate the scrap and overall quality can be increased.process control and optimization
A wide range of control scheme is included here to operate the individual processes and associated equipments. The individual processing time is reduced by this strategy. Product quality can also be improved.Plant operations control
This is applied in control of plant level whereas previous is cocerned with processes only. The functions of this strategy are to manage and coordinate the aggregate oprations in the plant.A high level computer networking may be incorporated to do this task.Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Engineering design and business functions are integrated in this step. This is higher level activity in the above startegies. The extensive use of computer applications, databases and networking are the parts of this strategyConclusion
These 10 strategies consititute a check list on improving the manufacturing system by automation. Processes are improved and optimized to increase productivity. Multiple strategies can be implemented in one project. So we can conclude that these points are very much effective for producing highest level quality product.
