AKTA - Automation of Kitting, Transport and Assembly

Research Project, 2016 – 2018

The choice of automation solution depends on the automation strategies of the company, as well as on parameters such as process layout, product complexity, routing- and recourse flexibility, product weight, etc., as illustrated in figure 1. The project considers both physical and cognitive automation, where physical automation concerns the automation of mechanical tasks and cognitive automation concerns automation of tasks related to information and control. The main idea behind AKTA is to provide possible automation strategies and solutions in order for Swedish production to increase its performance by an increased utilisation of automation in the material handling from warehouse to assembly. At the same time, the project recognises the importance of finding the right level of automation in relation to requirements and prerequisites, and of acknowledging and supporting the role of the human operators. AKTA focuses on material handling in the four areas of warehousing, kit preparation, in-house transportation, and assembly.