Flexible Automation and Integrated Manufacturing 1999

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-133-4

DESIGN FOR ASSEMBLY - THE KEY TO ECONOMIC MANUFACTURING

DOI: 10.1615/FAIM1999.320
pages 347-355

Abstract

Design for Assembly techniques have gained widespread use over the past twenty years and it is well recognised that of all manufacturing activities, it is the most cost effective method of reducing manufacturing costs. Most of the more popular methods have tended to concentrate on manual assembly and in particular that associated with consumer products and electronics; more recently, attention has been focused on issues relevant to maintenance and recycling. Whilst some attention has been aimed at dedicated and flexible assembly, this has also tended to concentrate on 'small' products and very little has been said about the particular needs of low volume, complex, high added value products. This paper attempts to broadly classify significantly different product groups, examine the manufacturing issues for each of these groups and identify the Design for Assembly axioms which best reflect the particular needs of the groups.