Automobile Assembly Line Research Articles

Why do women choose an unregulated birth worker to birth at home in Australia: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn Australia the choice to birth at home is not well supported and only 0.4% of women give birth at home with a registered midwife. Recent changes to regulatory requirements for midwives have become more restrictive and there is no insurance product that covers private midwives for intrapartum care at home. Freebirth (planned birth at home with no registered health professional) with an unregulated birth worker who is not a registered midwife or doctor (e.g. Doula, ex-midwife, lay midwife etc.) appears to have increased in Australia. The aim of this study is to explore the reasons why women choose to give birth at home with an unregulated birth worker (UBW) from the perspective of women and UBWs.MethodsNine participants (five women who had UBWs at their birth and four UBWs who had themselves used UBWs in the past for their births) were interviewed in-depth and the data analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were found: ‘A traumatising system’, ‘An inflexible system’; ‘Getting the best of both worlds’ and ‘Treated with love and respect versus the mechanical arm on the car assembly line’. Women interviewed for this study either experienced or were exposed to mainstream care, which they found traumatising. They were not able to access their preferred birth choices, which caused them to perceive the system as inflexible. They interpreted this as having no choice when choice was important to them. The motivation then became to seek alternative options of care that would more appropriately meet their needs, and help avoid repeated trauma through mainstream care.ConclusionWomen who engaged UBWs viewed them as providing the best of both worlds – this was birthing at home with a knowledgeable person who was unconstrained by rules or regulations and who respected and supported the woman’s philosophical view of birth. Women perceived UBWs as not only the best opportunity to achieve a natural birth but also as providing ‘a safety net’ in case access to emergency care was required.

The Improvement of Production Bottleneck Process in J Company Automobile Assembly Line

The 21st century is an era of rapid scientific and technological development, the manufacturing sector, the production methods are constantly undergoing change. Due to the rapid changes in market demand, how to further improve the efficiency of production lines to meet market demand, more and more importance in enterprises. This requires at existing production facilities remain unchanged, continue to solve the production line in the “bottleneck” problem, to achieve the purpose of optimizing the production line. Based on the J company car assembly line research, industrial engineering according to the method identified limit their productivity bottleneck process and propose ways to improve the process simplified from three aspects, MTM method and the learning curve theory, we have made reduce operating time bottleneck process to take time below the lifting of restrictions on the assembly line productivity. Finally, through analytic hierarchy process evaluation above methods to obtain the most suitable method for improving further propose the optimal solution.

The Effects of Burnout on Task Performance and Turnover Intention of New Generation of Skilled Workers

Based on the matching questionnaire data of 223 employees on the car assembly line and 45 of their direct supervisors, this paper discusses the influence of new generation burnout on task performance and turnover intention and the mediating role of career commitment and the moderating effect of innovation orientation. The results reveal that burnout of young skilled employees has direct negative effect on their task performance. Career commitment of young people plays the partial mediation role in the positive relationship between burnout and turnover intention, while innovation orientation plays the negative moderation in the relationship between occupational commitment and turnover intention. Management implications of the study are to reduce burnout can effectively improve job performance. At the same time, enhancing the employees’ occupational commitment and innovative work values can effectively reduce the young employees’ turnover intention.

Using Intelligent Robots to Assemble Automobile Parts

This paper presents the available technique and discusses the difficulties to implement intelligent robots in nextgeneration automobile assembly. First, it presents the status of automobile assembly line, analyzes the problems and difficulties of current industrial robots-based assembly systems, and summarizes the technology needed to overcome the problems and difficulties. Then, it presents the new technology for intelligent assembly developed at National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (AIST), which can be directly used to implement intelligent robots for automobile assembly. Next, the paper analyzes the drawbacks of the newly developed technology and discusses remaining challenges, and presents our view of next-generation automobile assembly systems.

作業者の運動情報を利用した作業進度の推定とそれに基づく人協調ロボットのための作業支援スケジューリング

We have been developing a co-worker robot which works in cooperation with workers for an automobile assembly line. The co-worker robot is not directly involved in the assembly processes but carries out some nonessential tasks for supporting workers. In this paper, we improve our old system which decides a delivery timing based on logistic regression model. We propose a method to estimate a worker's current task for improving performance of timing decision system. To achieve these, the worker's behavior is modeled combining two probabilistic techniques: Gaussian mixture model for classifying areas corresponding to each task and hidden Markov model for modeling and recognizing a worker's action. By estimating a worker's behavior using a worker's kinetic information and supporting the worker at the proper timing, this system improves work efficiency and supplies the part to the worker effectively.

B-PaDY: robot co-worker in a bumper assembly line

In an automobile assembly line, many processes require control and human intervention. A human’s dexterity and ability to react to unpredictable changes in production volume and product specifications are necessary for these processes. Thus, it remains difficult to rely on robots or other automated systems. Conversely, some tasks, such as moving to a tool rack and delivering parts, do not require human skill. In the bumper assembly process of automobile assembly, a worker must move to pick up the bumper twice in one procedure. This task may strain the worker and increase work time for each bumper. To address this situation, we developed a new co-worker robot, named B-PaDY, to work in cooperation with human workers on the automobile bumper assembly line. This co-worker robot is not directly involved in the assembly processes, but performs tasks to support human workers. The robot delivers the bumper to the worker on the production line at the right time. We propose hardware concepts and designs to ensure worker’s safety and allow for handling of all bumpers types. This robot uses a suspended rail system and handles the bumper, attaching to its reverse side. Additionally, we propose a method to determine the proper delivery timing based on a logistic regression model and confirm its effectiveness by performing experiments. We statistically model the worker’s state upon completion of the assembly task and stochastically determine the proper timing. By recognizing the worker’s behavior and supporting the worker with appropriate timing, our system effectively supplies the bumper to the worker and improves work efficiency.

MODAPTS 기반 자동차 조립공정 부품공급 공수 산정에 관한 연구

MODAPTS 기반 자동차 조립공정 부품공급 공수 산정에 관한 연구

Comparison of muscle activity of wrist extensors and kinematics of wrist joint during wrist extension in automobile assembly line workers with and without lateral epicondylitis.

Overuse of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) may play a role in the development of lateral epicondylitis (LE). However, no studies have investigated the muscle activity ratio between the ECR and extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) associated with the kinematics during wrist extension in workers with LE. We compared the ratio (ECR/ECU) of muscle activity between the ECR and ECU and the kinematics of the wrist during wrist extension between workers with and without LE. Fifteen automobile assembly line workers with LE and 15 workers without LE participated in this study. The ratio of muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography, and wrist kinematics were measured by a three-dimensional motion analysis system while the workers extended their wrists actively to the maximum range to which they did not feel uncomfortable. Significantly greater ratios of muscle activity, ranges of radial deviation, and combined motion of radial deviation and extension (CMDE) were shown in workers with LE compared to those without LE. Also, the range of wrist extension was significantly lower in workers with LE than in those without LE. Quantifying the ratio of muscle activity with altered kinematics of wrist extension may help researchers to understand why overuse of ECR is occurring and explain LE development in automobile assembly line workers.

Scheduling with time-dependent discrepancy times

In time-dependent scheduling, various processing time functions are studied, yet absolute value functions have surprisingly been omitted from the discussion. Such a processing time function increases linearly with a job's discrepancy from its ideal midtime. The objective is to find a schedule that minimizes the makespan, introducing the discrepancy time minimization problem. This single-machine scheduling problem with time-dependent processing times is motivated by optimization of walking times on a car assembly line. Its decision version is NP hard, as we show by reduction of the even---odd partition problem. For the variant with known start time, we develop several heuristics. Further insights form lower bounds and dominance rules for a branch-and-bound search. Numerical experiments show the performance of our algorithms on problem instances of up to 60 jobs. For the variant with common ideal midtime and flexible start time, we present a polynomial-time algorithm.

バンパ組付作業支援ロボットB-PaDY

We have been developing a robot which works in cooperation with workers in the automobile bumper assembly line, named B-PaDY. This robot is not directly involved in the assembly task but does non-essential task for workers. In assembly line, AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) brings bumper and B-PaDY needs to grasp it to supply workers for reduction of burden. However, bumper is not always in the same position because of low accuracy of AGV. In this paper, we propose a method using camera to detect bumper based on feature matching and template matching. Moreover, after bumper detected, B-PaDY automatically correct the position and grasp it robustly.

Analyzing and simulating supply chain disruptions to the automobile industry based on experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake

The Great East Japan Earthquake revealed fatal weak points of the supply chain management (SCM) employed by Japanese industries in particular that of automobile industry. Observed disconnections of supply chain and shutdown of production lines of the industries are recognized as an icon of weakness of industrial SCM. Japanese automobile industry in particular is now keen on improving resiliency of the supply chain in terms of continuity of the automobile assembly lines. In view of this, the authors: i) review an observed negative impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the automobile industry, ii) identify current strategies being considered by automobile industry for improving resiliency of supply chain, iii) develop a numerical supply chain model of automobile industry, and iv) evaluate efforts to improve SCM practice through inclusion of risk mitigation measures. The authors finally conclude and recommend a possible policy development for further strengthening resiliency of the automobile industry.

Prevalence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Auto-mission Assembly Plant Workers

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in auto of a mission assembly plants. Background: Most studies of musculoskeletal disorders have used car assembly line as their participants. However, little research has been done on musculoskeletal disorders afflictions of mission assembly line workers. Method: Through a focus group interview with an ergonomist and a manager at a mission assembly plant site, a questionnaire was developed for musculoskeletal disorders. The questionnaire consisted of five parts, demographic factors, musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, and musculoskeletal disorder experiences; 137 participated in this survey. The surveys were analyzed by correlation and Chi-squared analysis. Results: Musculoskeletal disorder symptoms and serious pain were reported in the neck, shoulder, back, and fingers. These problems were statistically related to various demographic factors, such as age, stature, stretching, and work satisfaction. Conclusion: Treatment of musculoskeletal disorders should consider the workers traits. If there is no specific cause of the pain, developing stretches and exercises before and after work should be applied to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Application: The results of this study can be used to develop guidelines to prevent injury in auto at mission assembly plants.

차체 소재 다변화에 따른 체결 및 접합기술

Abstract The ultimate goal of developing body is revealed the “lightweight” at latest EuroCarBody conference 2012 and the most core technology is joining process to make lightweight car body design. Accordingly, in this study, the car body assembly line for the assembly process applies to any introduction, particularly in the assembly of aluminum alloy and composite materials applied by the process for the introductory approached. Process were largely classified by welding (laser, arc, resistance, and friction stir welding), bonding (epoxy bonding) and mechanical fastening (FDS, SPR, Bolting and clinching). Applications for each process issues in the case and the applicable award was presented, based on the absolute strength of the test specimens and joining characteristics for comparative analysis were summarized. Finally, through this paper, we would tried to establish the characteristics of the joint for lightweight structure.Key Words : Lightweight, Joining technology, Mechanical fastening, Adhesive bonding, Euro car body, Tensile shear strengthISSN 1225-6153Online ISSN 2287-8955

An improved multi-objective genetic algorithm for heterogeneous coverage RFID network planning

Recent research has demonstrated the potential benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the supply chain and production management via its item-level visibility. However, the RFID coverage performance is largely impacted by the surrounding environment and potential collisions between the RFID devices. Thus, through RFID network planning (RNP) to achieve the desired coverage within the budget becomes a key factor for success. In this study, we establish a novel and generic multi-objective RNP model by simultaneously optimising two conflicted objectives with satisfying the heterogeneous coverage requirements. Then, we design an improved multi-objective genetic algorithm (IMOGA) integrating a divide-and-conquer greedy heuristic algorithm to solve the model. We further construct a number of computational cases abstracted from an automobile mixed-model assembly line to illustrate how the proposed model and algorithm are applied in a real RNP application. The results show that the proposed IMOGA achieves highly competitive solutions compared with Pareto optimal solutions and the solutions given by four recently developed well-known multi-objective evolutionary and swarm-based optimisers (SPEA2, NSGA-II, MOPSO and MOPS2O) in terms of solution quality and computational robustness.

Facing the open innovation gap: measuring and building open innovation in supply chains

Purpose– This study aims to develop a standardized instrument to measure open innovation and trust. The instrument is designed to examine the willingness of those involved in supply chains (SCs) to apply open innovation. It may also be used to observe the potential role of customers, competitors and suppliers in improving the performance of SCs.Design/methodology/approach– This survey of the extant studies of Multinational Automobiles Assembly lines in Egypt involved a questionnaire, which was provided across all grades at the middle managerial level. This questionnaire was divided into two main sections. The first section was concerned with elements of open innovation such as innovation, shared values and shared knowledge. The second section was focused on interrelated types of organizational and extra-organizational trust.Findings– The developed instrument was designed to access and analyze the different types of trust required for the optimal application of open innovation. Its purpose was to enhance customer satisfaction, and to help to create better internal-customer performance and the provision of innovative products. This explorative study indicated that Multinational Automobile Assembly lines in Egypt are willing to apply open innovation methods to improve their performance.Research limitations/implications– The study had a number of limitations. As the survey was conducted entirely on Multinational Automobile Assembly lines in Egypt, the applicability of the proposed scale will need to be tested further on different countries and types of industry.Originality/value– There is little empirical research about implementation of open innovation. Practitioners and researchers should find value in this unique instrument tool.

스터드 볼트 자동 교정 통합 모니터링 시스템에 관한 연구

Article history: The automobile industry is ubiquitous and involved in the handling of metal, machines, electricity, electron, and chemistry including the products of many types of processes. In the process of installing engines as a part of the car assembly line, the measurement and correction of the position of the stud bolts consumes a great deal of time. Additionally, defective parts must be manually removed. In the process of engine installation, the speed of the operation, related to the economics of vehicle assembly, is dependent upon measuring the precise position of the stud bolt, reducing the length of correction time, and increasing the working rate. This paper deals with securing the economic feasibility of the manufacturing process, increasing the safety by removing risk factors in the working area, and improving and equalizing the quality by developing an automatic system for the process involving a stud bolt.

Study on the Multi-Tag Identification Anti-Collision Algorithm of RFID in Automobile Assembly Line

With the mass production and use of car, the social are also increasing the requirements the automotive industry development. More and more automobile manufacturers are hoping to establish an efficient identification system, so that management would be enhanced to improve the efficiency and reduce the error rate. What’s more, motor-dom has been the important application field of RFID technique. In this paper, the paper is to carry out a detailed analysis of technology and research for RFID anti-collision system to guide manufacturers to improve the efficiency of RFID systems in the automotive assembly line and to solve the problem of collision multi-tag identification.

Assembly Line Balancing in Automobile Engine Industry

In this paper, under various constraints, based on LR series engine of automobile mixed model assembly line as an example, application of MMALB theory design automobile engine assembly line. To solve the multi-objective optimization problem, we establish the mathematical model between the workstation and workstation internal load balancing two optimization objectives. And engine assembly line is dynamic simulated by using the simulation software eM-Plant. The results verify the validity and practicability of the digital simulation. Finally, the planning scheme guarantees the whole assembly line load balancing and achieves production requirements.

Measuring the Cost of Individual Disruptions in Multistage Manufacturing Systems

ABSTRACTA Multistage Manufacturing System (MMS), in which interconnected workstations fabricate products, plays an important role in modern manufacturing facilities. An MMS is subject to random disruptions originating at individual workstations. Understanding the cost of individual disruptions is critical for executional cost management at the plant-floor level. However, the interdependence of the workstations makes it challenging to measure the cost of individual disruptions. One disruption might stop another workstation and cause a system shutdown, while inventory buffers might compensate for another disruption, which will then have no impact on system output. We propose a four-step procedure to measure the cost of individual disruptions and conduct a simulation study using field data from an automobile assembly line. The results show that cost information generated by the proposed procedure is useful for both “cost bottleneck” identification and performance evaluation, and thus can facilitate executional cost management at the plant-floor level.

Ergonomic contribution of ABLE exoskeleton in automotive industry

In PSA Peugeot Citroen factories, high precision requirements of workstations make them being manual. One of the main goal of the car manufacturer is to minimize the pain of workers while maintaining high efficiency of production lines. Consequently, assisting operators with an exoskeleton is a potential solution for improving ergonomics of painful workstations while respecting industrial constraints. To determine ergonomic performances of an exoskeleton, human joint angles and torques, ground reaction forces, and duration of operations are analysed for eight subjects performing a representative screwing task. Experiments were performed using ABLE upper-limb exoskeleton, developed by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), which has the functionality to compensate arm and tools loads. Results show a clear reduction of the sum of the joints torques, up to 38.9%, given by ABLE supply and invite to make concrete the use of exoskeletons in car assembly lines. Relevance to industryIn industries, workers performing manual operations are subjected to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The usage of robotic devices such as exoskeletons might then be a relevant solution to reduce workers pain and prevent MSD. The paper describes how to assess ergonomic performances of such robotic devices for a future usage in industry.