Scribd
Upload
35 views

Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems and Their Enabling Technologies 3

The document discusses the evolution of manufacturing systems from three major epochs: pre-CNC, CNC, and knowledge epochs. It focuses on the shift towards responsive manufacturing systems in the knowledge epoch due to global competition and rapid technological changes. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) are introduced to address these challenges through modular and flexible design of both hardware and software components to allow quick reconfiguration of production capacity. Key enabling technologies are needed to realize the full benefits of RMS.

Uploaded by

Anonymous WmMP8H6JG
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views

Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems and Their Enabling Technologies 3

The document discusses the evolution of manufacturing systems from three major epochs: pre-CNC, CNC, and knowledge epochs. It focuses on the shift towards responsive manufacturing systems in the knowledge epoch due to global competition and rapid technological changes. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) are introduced to address these challenges through modular and flexible design of both hardware and software components to allow quick reconfiguration of production capacity. Key enabling technologies are needed to realize the full benefits of RMS.

Uploaded by

Anonymous WmMP8H6JG
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Introduction New technological developments and market demands have major impacts on manufacturing.

As a result, several shifts in focus of manufacturing processes can be observed; they can be conveniently divided into three major epochs: 1 pre !computer numerical control, " computer numerical control #$N$ , and % knowledge epochs &1,"'. (n the pre!$N$ epochs #before the 1)*+s , the emphasis was on increased production rate; there was small demand for product variations and the market was characteri,ed by local competition. -his was changed to cost reduction and emphasis on improved product .uality in the $N$ epoch #the 1)*+s and 1)/+s ; manufacturing was dramatically affected by the invention of $N$ machines as they provided more accurate control and means for increasing product variety. (n the knowledge epoch #starting in the 1))+s , the focus has shifted to responsiveness of a manufacturing system. -his period is characteri,ed by intensified global competition, high!pace of technological innovations and enormous progress in computer and information technology &10%'. 1apid progress was made in areas such as management information systems, development of software2application programs for various purposes, advances in communication systems #hardware and software , and penetration of computer technology in various fields &30*'. 4lobal competition and information technology are therefore the driving forces behind recent changes in manufacturing. -hese conditions re.uire a responsive manufacturing system that could be designed rapidly, able to convert .uickly to the production of new product models, able to adjust capacity .uickly, able to integrate process technology and to produce an increased variety of products in unpredictable .uantities. As reported by 5ee &/' and 4arro and 6artin &)', underlying components and structure of a manufacturing system significantly affect its ability to be reconfigured for rapid and cost effective production of new products. (n their studies it was shown that modular design of machine tools provided the manufacturing systems with the necessary tools for .uick integration and restructuring as re.uired for rapid response to the fluctuating market. 7n close e8amination of the manufacturing techni.ues introduced so far #e.g. 96:s, lean, ;(- , one observes that they do not possess a modular structure in terms of software and hardware; therefore, they are not always fle8ible enough and can not accommodate rapid changes. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems and their enabling technologies % -he same views are strongly supported by the results of recent surveys carried out in ;apan and the <:A to assess the accomplishments of some of the available manufacturing systems #e.g. fle8ible manufacturing systems and user satisfactions with their performance &1+01"'. -he

results indicate that some manufacturers have lost interest in 96:s, and 96: sales have been dropping &1+'. :oftware comple8ity, lack of reconfigurability, investment cost, maintenance cost and rapid obsolescence are among the dominant factors in making 96:s not very attractive &/,1+01"'. As a result, and due to demands of manufacturers, new approaches to the design of manufacturing systems are proposed which are substantially different from conventional methods. 9or e8ample, the so called =holonic manufacturing systems #>6:s ? have been introduced by the ;apanese firms to address the needs of industry &1+'. -he underlying design philosophy of >6:s #bottom!up design is totally different from 96:s #top!down design . (n another study &/', the simultaneous design of products and manufacturing systems is proposed to enhance the overall reconfigurability of production. -he concept of the reconfigurable manufacturing system #16: was introduced to address new challenges in modern manufacturing systems. :uch a system can be created rapidly using basic process modules 0 hardware and software 0 that can be re!integrated .uickly and reliably. 1econfiguration allows adding, removing, or modifying specific process capabilities, controls, software, or machine structure #9igure 1 to adjust production capacity in response to changing market demands or technology. 9or a manufacturing system to be readily reconfigurable, the system must possess certain key characteristics. -hese include modularity #design all system components, both software and hardware, to be modular , integrability #design systems and components for both ready integration and future introduction of new technology , convertibility #allow .uick changeover between e8isting products and .uick system adaptability for future products , diagnosability #identify .uickly the sources of .uality and reliability problems that occur in large systems , and customi,ation #design the system capability and fle8ibility #hardware and controls to match the application #product family . As shown in 9igure ", there are many aspects of reconfiguration. -hese include various configurations of the production system #e.g. serial, parallel, hybrid , reconfiguration of the factory communication software, configuration of new machine controllers, building blocks and configuration of modular machines, modular process and modular tooling. -o achieve the goals of reconfigurable manufacturing systems, there are several key enabling technologies that should be developed and implemented to reali,e the benefits of 16:s. -he following sections are devoted to a review of these technologies and the ways they contribute to success of 16:s.

You might also like