Molecular production system - Flexible and attractive manufacturing systems of the future

Abstract

The demand for more flexible manufacturing systems is increasing because of higher volatilities and shortened product life cycles. Manufacturers today define their assembly layout once regarding the actual market situation. To perform changes according market demands are usually associated with high costs. Factories needs flexible manufacturing systems which can change the layout overnight. At the same time the job profiles of manufacturing employee changes. More and more knowledge work tasks are part of their daily work. Combined with an increasing demand regarding attractive and individualized workplaces also in factories leads to new design approaches of manufacturing workplaces. This paper presents a new design approach to get more flexibility and productivity and on the other hand more attractive manufacturing workplaces.