Resilient manufacturing of composites (RECO)

Research Project, 2021 – 2024

Purpose and goal: RECO contributes with new knowledge and methods for handling geometric variation in composite materials. Resilience is treated both in terms of resistance to sources of variation in manufacturing, and as resilience in the supply chain as more suppliers will meet the requirements due to better variation management.
The project promotes the use of lightweight materials, improves geometric quality and shortens lead time. RECO involves project partners and other related stakeholders in workshops, interviews, case studies and through demonstrators.

Expected results and effects: RECO promotes the use of lightweight materials, improves the geometric quality and shortens lead time. Product quality is increased through smart assembly solutions and simulations, instead of stricter tolerances and higher requirements on the suppliers. To develop an adaptive assembly process and increase knowledge of part and assembly deviations based on simulation is increasing manufacturing flexibility and creates a more resilient manufacturing and supply chain to reduce costs, lead time and/or improved quality results.

Approach and implementation: RECO comprises five work packages. These cover project management including training initiatives and steering group meetings, development of simulation algorithms to predict part deviations and deviations on assembly level, integration of these in a geometry assurance process for composite materials and finally a demonstrator. The work is distributed between the various project parties and is coordinated within and between the respective work packages and at joint project meetings at least twice a year.