SIMULATION
MODELLING OF BOTH AUTOMATED AND HUMAN-BASED MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY
LINE
Giorgio
Mossa, Giovanni Mummolo
Dep.
of Mechanical and Management Engineering
Polytechnic
of
Viale
Japigia, 182 - 70126
gmossa@dimeg.poliba.it
KEY-WORDS
Stochastic
simulation modelling, Human-based operations, Automotive
industry.
Abstract
The
authors provide a simulation study concerning the production line of a
innovative high pressure diesel-injection pump. The manufacturing system
consists of both high automated and manual work stations. Operation time
as well as system maintenance time are random variables. Field data
on both automated and manual operations as well as on failure<and repair
times are collected.
A
stochastic discrete event simulation model allows estimating the effects
of stochastic variability of random variables on system performance. The
model allows identifying bottlenecks and criticalities.
Four
main scenarios are investigated. The first one concerns the evaluation
of performance and criticalities of the production system as designed and
actually managed. The second one relates to the increasing in the transfer
line availability by adopting a preventive maintenance policy. The third
scenario focuses on the final product assembly; benefits due to the increase
in the human resources are evaluated. The synergic effect
of both the abovementioned technical solutions are also investigated
in the last scenario. Each scenario has been tested under different production
rate.
Results
obtained outline the effectiveness of technical solutions investigated.
Giorgio
Mossa –
PhD. Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic of
Giovanni
Mummolo - Full
Professor of Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic of