Manufacturing cell performance improvement: A simulation study

Willem J. Selen, Jalal Ashayeri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper reports on the study of the `underbody front'-automated welding cell at Opel Belgium, a major automobile manufacturer of General Motors International Operations. It employs the use of simulation in an experimental design framework to identify potential improvements in average daily output through management of buffer sizes at key buffer locations within the cell. Many practical applications of animated computer simulation stop at the modeling and displaying of the process under study. Simulation as a tool for process reengineering or enhancement can only reach its full potential if incorporated in a comprehensive statistical study, so as to attain statistically significant results. The paper also reports on the reactions of, and issues raised by, management when the experimental design methodology was presented as a tool for process enhancement and productivity improvement.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)169-176
Number of pages8
JournalRobotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Volume17
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Software
  • General Mathematics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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