A key process in a closed-loop supply chain is managing and challenging the transportation and packaging management. Strict environmental regulations in connection with transport of environmentally hazardous substances (e.g. oil) are offering a highcost-saving potential in connection with an optimised transportation and packaging concept. The aim of this case orientated paperis to provide the framework for the management of reverse flow of materials in automotive industry. The emphasis is placed onthe remanufacturing activities. To obtain and verify the necessary information for the above mentioned problems, differentmethods and techniques have been applied: 1) Relevant, available literature in connection with this matter was studied; 2) Dataand documents was requested directly by relevant market actors; 3) The clustered data was analysed and samples werehighlighted; and 4) The data was evaluated and recommended courses of action were given. The results show that the mainproblems appear in the area of forward and reverse logistics: Packaging concepts which do not protect the product in an optimalway (forward / reverse logistics). Moreover, packaging concepts which do not protect the environment against potential negativeinfluence of a used part (reverse logistics) A best practice for the transportation of engine components is given and evaluated: Anengine in a metal frame with oil-pan. Securely attached by bolts. Packed in plastic bag.
Activities to support manufacturing research are carried out with the intention to gain knowledge of industrial problems and provide solutions that addresses these issues. In order for solution to be viable to the industry, research activities are carried out in close collaboration with participants from the industry, academia and research institutions. Interactive research approach motivates participants with multi-disciplinary perspective to collaborate and emphasizes joint learning in the change process. This article, presents a methodology, where participants with different expertise can collaborate to develop safety solutions. The concept of a demonstrator, which represents cumulative result of a series of research activities, is presented as a tool to showcase functioning and design intent in a collaborative research environment. The results of a pilot study, where manufacturing professionals evaluated design decisions that resulted in a demonstrator, will be presented. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
The perceived benefits of large industrial robots for collaborative operations are characteristics such as long reach with heavy load carrying capability. Collaborative operations refers to situations where operators and robots share a workspace to complete tasks in close proximity. This mode of operation coupled with the physical characteristics of large robots represents high risks to injury and for these reasons, the safeguarding of the workspaces needs to be achieved in conjunction with the tasks to be performed within the workstation. This article will detail two workstations that was developed in a laboratory environment and are partial results of a research project titled ToMM2, whose aim was to understand safety issues associated with collaborative operations with large robots.
It has been shown that large robots can be safely installed for human-robot collaborative assembly cells in experimental setups. It has also been found that these installations require demanding considerations of a significant number of layout and safety parameters. This indicates that successful commercial implementations will require a resource efficient model for production system design that anticipates utilization of large robots in collaborative settings. Experiences from experimental setups have been used to explore a basic model for such production system design, to stimulate a discussion regarding what model characteristics should be tested and validated in future research.
To enable transitioning the Swedish economy into a bioeconomy, Swedish wood industry need to increase added value and introduce new products to market by introducing new technology and improving the product and production development processes. Research in automotive industry have shown the need for integrating product and production development when introducing new technology in existing production systems, and have indicated a possibility of using specifically designed student case projects in order to generate qualitative data. In this paper, one student case project on product and production development in the Swedish wood industry, involving IoT wood products, is presented and evaluated.
As fenceless human-robot collaborative (HRC) production layouts are developed as a viable alternative to traditional set-ups, risk assessment of such installations becomes highly complex. The involved risks include new challenges in the form of previously non-encountered dynamic hazards, which demand innovative solutions to ensure human occupational safety. This paper aims to investigate the application of design automation in providing means of incorporating risk assessment in the early stages of development of production layouts. The result is a conceptual framework for a decision support tool with which the safety aspects of an HRC application can be evaluated before installation.
Risk assessment is a sequential process which requires understanding the hazards and analyzing risks associated, to determine required safety measures, like safeguarding to mitigate the risks to an acceptable level. In this article a thorough task-based risk assessment process is conducted in the early stage of layout design and building of a collaborative cell for sealing application performed in aircraft industries using a medium sized industrial robot system integrated with safety control functions. This article will also discuss how simulation could contribute in eliminating the threats as required by the safety standards before investing in equipment for collaborative cell layout.