combining factory simulation with value stream mapping a critical discussion

Abstract Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is employed for the analysis of manufacturing processes. The VSM analysis leads to improve the process through the reduction of non-value added steps. The optimization is often verified by computer simulation (CS) before actual implementation in the factory. The two approaches imply a different underlying conceptual model of production: a deterministic flow of material against a stochastic queuing network. The authors discuss the critical issues, but show, with the help of an automotive case study, that they could produce positive outcomes if the goals are carefully chosen and if some rules of use are respected

Predicting and preventing mistakes in human-robot collaborative assembly

The human-robot collaboration (HRC) in industrial assembly cells leads to great benefits by combining the flexibility of human worker with the accuracy and strength of robot. On the other hand, collaborative works between such different operators can generate risks and faults unknown in current industrial processes, either manual or automatic. To fully exploit the new collaborative paradigm, it is therefore essential to identify these risks before the collaborative robots are introduced in industry and start working together with humans. In the present study the authors analyze a benchmark set of general assembly tasks performed by HRC in a laboratory environment. The analyses are executed with the use of an adapted Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) to identify potential mistakes which can be made by human operator and robot. The outcomes are employed to define proper mistake proofing methods to be applied in the HRC assembly work cell

1,3-Diphenyl-8-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline

The 1H-pyrazolo­[3,4-b]quinoline (PQ) core of the title mol­ecule, C23H14F3N3, is aromatic and essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.015 Å) and the two phenyl substituents at positions 1 and 3 are twisted relative to this fragment by 29.74 (7) and 25.63 (7)°, respectively. In the crystal, mol­ecules are arranged along the b axis into stacks via [pi]-[pi] inter­actions, with an inter­planar distance of the PQ core of 3.489 (4) Å

The alien flora of the Rzeszów Foothills

The aim of the study was to analyze the synanthropic flora of the Rzeszów Foothills (south-eastern Poland). Floristic studies were carried out in years 2007-2013 using the cartogram method in the ATPOL system (2×2 km square grid). Here we present the numerical data (number of species in each historical-geographical group, families most frequently represented by anthropophytes), show the proportion of specific growth forms and describe habitat preferences. The Rzeszów Foothills region had already been shown as strongly impacted by anthropogenic pressures. The total number of vascular plant species detected was equal to 1115; among them, the synanthropes represent about 30%. Also the index of synanthropy was calculated to confirm strong anthropogenic transformation of the studied area. In the presented study, 47 invasive plant species were discovered in the region. Moreover, the role and distribution of the most interesting and invasive of the synanthropic species was analyzed based on their negative impact on the native flora. We also identified plant species with high invasive potential and indicated causes of their appearance and spread

Human factor in industry of the future - Knowledge acquisition and motivation

Industry of the future bases on people knowledge, creativeness and motivations. Although, the number of workers needed in factories of the future decreases, the requiremenets concerning employees skills have been increasing. The knowledge of employees determines the factory system quality and efficiency. The motivation of people determines continuous improvement and development realized by problems identification and elimination. Hence, adequate learning methods are required to be implemented to achieve the following goals: empower and motivate people. This paper presents chosen methods such as learning by doing, computer simulations and virtual reality which support knowledge acquisition by people being prepared for work in factories of the future. The presented methods also increase employee awareness concerning possibilities of improvements

Human factor in intelligent manufacturing systems - knowledge acquisition and motivation

Abstract People play a central role in intelligent manufacturing systems because of two reasons: their knowledge is indispensable to create and improve intelligent manufacturing systems; and their motivation is very important to identify and solve causes of the problems which may occur in order to prevent them in the future. Therefore, adequate learning methods are required to accomplish these two goals: empower and motivate people. In this paper innovative methods such as learning by doing, simulations and virtual reality will be presented as the ways to transfer the knowledge about intelligent manufacturing systems and to increase motivation concerning their improvements

work sequence analysis and computer simulations of value flow and workers relocations a case study

Abstract Several solutions have been proposed for the workload balancing in manual assembly lines with workers' task assignment. Facing the case study of a sheet metal assembly line of transport pallets, the paper addresses the problem of the dynamic task assignment. The walking path minimization is considered in the problem, together with task sequence constraints. A real-time simulation allows to test the solution variations before their implementation