Lifting heavy or bulky objects, such as
parts bins and subassemblies, is one of the most hazardous tasks facing
assemblers on the plant floor. Fortunately, a wide variety of scissor lifts,
tilt tables and other ergonomic devices can improve productivity and minimize
the risk of back injury.
My last three columns have touched on different aspects of applying lean thinking to projects and problems, including different aspects of A3 thinking and methodology. This month focuses on yet another aspect, the target condition.
Two of the most commonly asked questions about fasteners are “When should fine-thread fasteners be used?” and “Is it preferable to apply torque to the nut rather than the bolt head?” Many different factors influence those decisions, but here are some basic answers to both questions.
Cost modeling is the practice of understanding the cost structure of the products purchased or manufactured for the purpose of optimizing a design or supply chain. The cost modeling process is focused on supporting three business areas: target costing, procurement, and competitive analysis.
The facility will have two highly automated assembly lines. One will be operational by the end of the year; the other will come on-line by the end of 2010.
Designing a medical device takes a long time. Designing an automated assembly system for that device shouldn’t add any more. Starting with standardized assembly chassis reduces engineering time and gets products to market faster.
With 3D vision guidance, robots can pick parts from leaning stacks, insert complex parts into assemblies, and even retrieve randomly distributed parts from a bin.
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