Towards improvement of geometrical quality for manual assembly parts
Licentiate thesis, 2017

Geometrical variation affects all mass-produced products. This variation will lead to deviations from the nominal design of the product both in terms of aesthetical and functional properties.  Geometrical variation originates either from the manufacturing of the parts or from the assembly process. In order to minimize the effect of variation robust design principles are often used. In early product development the majority of the properties in the system solutions are fixed and to change these later in the product development will be costly. In order to verify the system solution (locating scheme and tolerances), different simulation techniques are used to predict the behavior of the product. This is done using virtual tools, for example Computer Aided Tolerancing (CAT). In order to gain confidence for such tools it is very important that the simulation results are accurate and that they capture all factors that influence the product. In this thesis the focus has been on geometry assurance and CAT simulations for products that are manually assembled. Although many things can be automated, in the automotive industry most of the final assembly is performed by humans and nothing suggests that this will change. Since humans are quite different from robots’ other factors need to be taken into consideration when designing products that are to be manually assembled. The research presented in this thesis reports current issues and problems when performing geometry assurance, robust design and CAT simulations during product development of manual assembly products. In the thesis it is shown that the level of manual assembly complexity affects costs of poor quality, failure rate and geometrical quality. A simulation tool, is developed that simulates the robustness of an assembly both with consideration to sensitivity to variation and level of manual assembly complexity. The tool is implemented in a CAT system, RD&T. Finally, a number of existing research gaps are identified for further research.

calculation model

geometry system

Interview

assessment

action cost.

assembly

error

ergonomics

assembly complexity

design for assembly

robust design

complexity

manual assembly

sustainable

tolerance analysis and design

CAT

quality

failure

action cost

assembly ergonomics

Virtual Development Laboratory, Chalmers Tvärgata 4C
Opponent: Dr Casper Wickman, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden

Author

Mikael Rosenqvist

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Product Development

Geometrical robustness analysis considering manual assembly complexity

5th CATS 2014 - CIRP Conference on Assembly Systems and Technologies, 20141112-13,;Vol. 23(2014)p. 98-103

Paper in proceeding

Operator Related Causes for Low Correlation Between Cat Simulations and Physical Results

Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition,;Vol. 12(2014)

Paper in proceeding

A model for calculation of the costs of poor assembly ergonomics

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics,;Vol. 44(2014)p. 140-147

Journal article

Robust design and geometry assurance considering assembly ergonomics

Proceedings of the ASME 2012 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition IMECE2012, Nov. 9-15, 2012, Houston, Texas, USA,;Vol. 3(2012)p. 97-104

Paper in proceeding

Geometry assurance versus assembly ergonomics- Comparative interview studies in five manufacturing companies

In proceedings of the Cirp Conference On Assembly Technologies And Systems, Ann Arbor, USA, 20-22 maj, 2012,;(2012)

Paper in proceeding

Assembly failures and action cost in relation to complexity level and assembly ergonomics in manual assembly (part 2)

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics,;Vol. 44(2014)p. 455-459

Journal article

Subject Categories

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Other Mechanical Engineering

Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Production

Publisher

Chalmers

Virtual Development Laboratory, Chalmers Tvärgata 4C

Opponent: Dr Casper Wickman, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden

More information

Created

1/12/2017