Intelligent Single Worker Utilization For Component Retrieval For Multiple Stationary Assembly Lines

Abstract

Since the late 90s, the manufacturing industries have considerably evolved. Industries are more frequently making use of automated systems to improve their productivity, reduce the assembling time, and to be more competitive. This has led to an ever- increasing necessity for the implementation of automated manufacturing system capable of effectively handling all the required manufacturing processes. This study aims to develop an automated manufacturing system that will be easy to manage, maintain, and capable of efficiently using the resources to complete the required manufacturing tasks. This experimental system consists of two assembly lines, an AGV, and a storeroom. These parts have been developed as autonomous system that collaborate with one another over a network link. The assembly lines use a programmed algorithm that help them share information about each task performed, negotiate on the usage of the autonomous guided vehicle (AGV) and storeroom, and backup each other’s data. Each task performed by the assembly line is a time-based simulation of the assembling process of the four parts required from the storeroom. An AGV is used by the assembly line to collect parts from the storeroom. It follows a black line on a white surface connecting the storeroom to the assembly lines by using digital sensors. The storeroom uses an RFID system to store and retrieve parts according to the request placed by the assembly lines. The final results obtained show that the project’s main objectives to create a resource sharing algorithm in a manufacturing system with autonomous assembly lines, AGV, and storeroom, capable of negotiating and sharing information were successfully achieved.