Decision Making During Design and Reconfiguration of Modular Assembly Lines

Abstract

Modular and reconfigurable assembly lines can be found more and more often in industries. To make effective usage of such systems, fast and effective planning is essential. This paper presents two planning procedures that ease decision making during the design phase and reconfiguration phase of modular assembly lines respectively. The procedures list distinct decision steps in a structured, logical order and provide advice to designers and planners. This way, the design and reconfiguration processes are accelerated and the required amount of expert knowledge is reduced. Both procedures are demonstrated in a case study.