Showing papers on "Production engineering published in 1988"

Petri nets and flexible manufacturing

Abstract: The aim of this invited survey is to introduce Computer science/Petri nets specialists to the basic system level issues brought up by the development of Flexible Manufacturing and how Petri nets are used to aid the production engineers in their work. After some terminology concerning production engineering, the hierarchical decision and control level is briefly reviewed. Finally, the role and the presence of nets in CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) and in CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) for FMSs (Flexible Manufacturing Systems) are considered. From the design point of view, the use of nets have many advantages in modeling, qualitative analysis, performance evaluation and code generation. From the control of the plant perspective, scheduling on nets models, the coordination of the plant (global and partial) and the presence of nets in the local control level are discussed.

Flexible Manufacturing Organizations: Implications for Strategy Formulation and Organization Design

Abstract: Recently developed flexible manufacturing technologies (FMT) offer managers new strategic opportunities. After summarizing the literature on organization level technology and manufacturing strategy, FMT organization is described and compared to mass production organization on several key dimensions. Propositions are offered to guide future research and management practice.

Organizational and Technological Predictors of Change in automaticity

Abstract: Programmable automation lies at the heart of competitive manufacturing, yet many firms have been slow to adopt new production technologies. This study attempted to develop a theory of change in aut...

Production Control in Multistage Systems with Variable Yield Losses

Abstract: Many manufacturing processes involved in the fabrication and assembly of "high-tech" components have highly variable yields that complicate the planning and control of production. We develop a procedure to determine optimal input quantities at each stage of a serial production system in which process yields at each stage of production may be stochastic. The procedure is applied to an example in the manufacture of a light-emitting diode LED display using actual yield data. We also provide a brief analysis of the quantifiable savings obtained by reducing the variability of the yield at one production stage.

Theory of technical systems: A total concept theory for engineering design (2nd revised and enlarged edition)

Abstract: This book presents a comprehensive and unifying theory to promote the under standing of technical systems. Such a theory is useful as a foundation for a ratio nal approach to the engineering design process, as a background to engineering education, and other applications. The term "technical system" is used to represent all types of man-made artifacts, including technical products and processes. The technical system is therefore the subject (in the grammatical sense of the word) of the collection of activities which are performed by engineers within the processes of engineering design, including generating, retrieving, processing and transmitting of information about products. It is also the subject of various tasks in the production process, including work preparation and production planning, and in many economic considerations, company-internal and societal. In this way, the Theory of Technical Systems is a contribution to science, as in terpreted in the wider, Germanic sense of a "co-ordinated and codified body of knowledge." It brings together the various viewpoints of engineers, scientists, economists, ergonomists, managers, users, sociologists, etc., and shows where and how they influence the forms of engineering products. It also explains the influ ences that a product exerts on its environment. This Theory of Technical Systems should thus interest design engineers, and en gineers involved in production, management, sales, etc. In an interdisciplinary ap plication of value analysis, the Theory of Technical Systems should provide answers to many questions raised in this field."

Process-Oriented Production Planning and Control: Factors That Influence System Design

Abstract: This research describes how five production planning and control functions are accomplished by successful information systems in process industries, identifies factors that influence the design of ...

On managing the human factors engineering of hybrid production systems

Abstract: In the transition toward total automation, contemporary manufacturing systems are predominantly composed of production equipment that is neither completely manual or automated. The development of these systems, identified as hybrid production systems, employ and integrate the capacities of human operators with intelligent machines. It is argued that human activities in hybrid automated systems are critical in achieving productivity gains. Given this importance, hybrid systems must be designed to optimize production. Optimal human factors engineering is possible only when engineers and their management are aware of the technical challenges, created by hybrid systems, and the range of options available for meeting these challenges. The authors describe these challenges and their possible solutions, specifically targeted to the management of engineering and technology-based organizations. >

Major elements of just-in-time production

Abstract: It is argued that the just-in-time (JIT) production system is in reality a management philosophy whose primary principles are the elimination of waste in the production process and the involvement of people in the management of the production process. It involves little new technology and its end result is increased quality and productivity. JIT achieves these results by looking at all aspects of the production process. These include ways of involving the workers in the management of production, the importance of quality, the improvement of work methods, set-up time reduction, the use of U-shaped line layouts to improve flexibility and personnel utilization, the involvement of suppliers in the production planning process, and the use of a pull production system. The author discusses the role of inventory, JIT techniques, work methods, plant layout, supplier roles, and the production of scheduling and management. JIT techniques are thought particularly useful in repetitive production environment, i.e., environments with high-volume production of a relatively few end products. In these environments, the pay-off from investments in JIT conversion are often dramatic. >

Graph Theoretical Approaches

Abstract: For the production engineer one great virtue of graphs is their primitive simplicity and therefore their ability to represent a variety of structures of production planning and control problems.

Beavers—changing to low inventory manufacturing

Abstract: This paper is in two sections. The first outlines the case history of how Beaver Machine Tools of Norwich introduced just-in-time manufacturing techniques as a lifeline to survive in its highly competitive market. Following a successful pilot in sheetmetal the full implementation was introduced including: supply, GT cells, set-up reduction, quality improvement and the simplification of systems and procedures. The second section focuses on a special project developed by production engineering to convert a normal CNC machine into a zero set-up machine using low technology. This gave Beavers the ability to manufacture very small batch sizes on short lead time in line with both JIT and OPT philosophies.

An approach to computer integrated production management

Abstract: A new paradigm is proposed for the realization of computer integrated production management. Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) can never be constructed just by combining the automated devices available at present, such as CAD, CAM, CAPP and MRP systems. To realize successful CIM, the automation of friendly communication between experts is required, which plays a most important role in the integration of the various functions of production management. This points to the importance of computer integrated production management. In order to confirm the validity of the paradigm proposed in this paper, a prototype in process planning has been developed which aims at integration with CAD.

Common Foundations between Control Engineering and Manufacturing Management.

Abstract: SUMMARY A number of international studies have suggested that good performance in manufacturing companies is usually correlated with the employment of good quality engineering graduates in senior production management posts. This suggests that engineering courses should be designed with the expectation that many students will be engaged in decision making at the managerial level in situations involving considerable uncertainty. It is therefore important to establish which engineering disciplines provide skills with high potential for ‘carry-over’ into management. The conclusion reached in this paper is that control systems is such a subject, especially as a philosophy can be established in which mathematical models move from the general to the particular.

Rapid modeling: implications for business planning

Abstract: The ability to quickly model the production implications of a product for the marketing, sales, finance, or engineering functions of the enterprise, takes the manufacturing function into a strategic planning role. Rapid modeling can play a significant role in the selection of a manufacturing strategy. This discussion will show the capability and potential of rapid modeling in assisting planners and analysts examine various manufacturing alternatives. The proposed modeling technique can be used to examine manufacturing variables of interest to the marketing, engineering, production and finance components of the business entity. The model provides a focal point for the organization's decision support system by providing insight into the major aspects of production planning, scheduling and economic justification.

Factory planning and production analysis using SIMFACTORY

Abstract: Simulation is a decision support tool. But generally, the decisions are not made by the modelers. Rather, the modelers generate information that managers then use to make decisions. Thus, communicating the results is as important as obtaining the resu1t.s. Results, in the more general sense, include the input and the model itse.lf as well as the output. To communicate all this information can be very difficult if it is necessary to translate to and from a simulation language.

The application of advanced manufacturing technology in semiconductor fabrication

Abstract: An overview is presented of manufacturing techniques being pursued in a development line in support of advanced semiconductor production. Described are methods used to analyze alternate manufacturing techniques to provide leading-edge products in production volumes with aggressive defect reduction, process control, and turnaround time capability. Also outlined are the benefits associated with improved manufacturing techniques. Two examples are given. >

Ship design for production -- some u.k. experience

Abstract: Ship design for production is widely accepted in principle. Its successful establishment depends upon the shipbuilders having a well-defined shipbuilding policy, available to the designer; upon the setting of a realistic and upon agreed schedule, and upon adequately trained personnel. Key production engineering techniques include spatial analysis, process analysis, and standardization. The advent of powerful and inexpensive computer software has created new opportunities for producibility to be incorporated from the earliest stages of the design process. Significant progress has been made in recent years in the development of design methods and in their application.

A hierarchical knowledge-based/analytical approach to fault-tolerant control in flexible manufacturing

Abstract: The author deals with the production planning and control (PPC) problem encountered in industrial plants composed of chains of flexible manufacturing shops (FMS). Due to the variability of the FMS operation modes in processing a variable mix of parts, an efficient planning/control procedure has to be implemented to accommodate exogenous events (new orders) and to counteract the effects of endogenous events (failures). An outline is given of a hybrid control architecture, knowledge-based and analytical, able to integrate these planning/control tasks. >

Manufacturing technology and the role of manufacturing research

Abstract: The complexity and the importance of manufacturing technologies and the role of manufacturing research in the advancement of technology are described. Leverage areas for timely introduction of products to manufacturing and scale-up to volume manufacturing are identified. Examples of several manufacturing research projects at IBM are given to illustrate key points. >

A knowledge-based system for production control of flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract: Due to the changing market demands and under the heavy pressure of competition, product life cycles have permanently become shorter. Therefore, the production companies have less time to develop new products and to install the needed plants (Bolwijn/Kumpe 1986, p. 41). A lot of effort has been taken to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process by investing into highly automated production units (for instance NC-and CNC-machines). Now, it has been realized that it is inevitable to integrate these units in order to meet the requirements of flexibility and quality as well as that of efficiency (Mortimer 1985, p. 22). A central element of integration and automation are Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS). By an FMS we understand an integrated manufacturing system consisting of work stations linked by a computerized material handling system capable of making it possible for jobs to follow diverse routes through the system. An example of an FMS is given in fig. 1. FMS facilitate small batch sizes, high quality standards and efficiency of the production process at the same time.

Expert System for Process Planning in Production Facility Design : Knowledge Representation for Flow Type Production System

Abstract: Knowledge engineering is applied in the area ol production engineering, and an expert system for process planning in production facility design is researched. This expert system is developed in order to assist an inexperienced planner to make a decision in process planning. In this system, the knowledge data dealing with machine types and those makers are described using frame and ruled representation, and the system is programmed with UTILISP. An inexperienced planner uses this system to select the value corresponding to the required product quality from the knowledge data base. After all the machine types have been reviewed, the sequence and the optimum numbers o f those machines are decided. Through the application of the developed system to a process planning of parts like a shaft, it is ascertained that the Artificial Intelligence technology is effective as a tool assisting process planners in production facility design.