Technology Modules Providing Solutions for Agile Manufacturing
Miha Deniša,
Aleš Ude,
Mihael Simonič,
Tero Kaarlela,
Tomi Pitkäaho,
Sakari Pieskä,
Janis Arents,
Janis Judvaitis,
Kaspars Ozols,
Levente Raj,
András Czmerk,
Morteza Dianatfar,
Jyrki Latokartano,
Patrick Alexander Schmidt,
Anton Mauersberger,
Adrian Singer,
Halldor Arnarson,
Beibei Shu,
Dimosthenis Dimosthenopoulos,
Panagiotis Karagiannis,
Teemu-Pekka Ahonen,
Veikko Valjus,
Minna Lanz
Affiliations
Miha Deniša
Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics, and Robotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Aleš Ude
Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics, and Robotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Mihael Simonič
Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory, Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics, and Robotics, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tero Kaarlela
Department of Industrial Management, Centria University of Applied Sciences, 84100 Ylivieska, Finland
Tomi Pitkäaho
Department of Industrial Management, Centria University of Applied Sciences, 84100 Ylivieska, Finland
Sakari Pieskä
Department of Industrial Management, Centria University of Applied Sciences, 84100 Ylivieska, Finland
Janis Arents
Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
Janis Judvaitis
Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
Kaspars Ozols
Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
Levente Raj
Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Mechanical Engineering Informatics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
András Czmerk
Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Mechanical Engineering Informatics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
Morteza Dianatfar
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Jyrki Latokartano
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Patrick Alexander Schmidt
Fraunhofer IWU, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
Anton Mauersberger
Fraunhofer IWU, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
Adrian Singer
Fraunhofer IWU, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
Halldor Arnarson
Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway Campus Narvik, 8514 Narvik, Norway
Beibei Shu
Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway Campus Narvik, 8514 Narvik, Norway
Dimosthenis Dimosthenopoulos
Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Panagiotis Karagiannis
Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Teemu-Pekka Ahonen
Fastems Oy Ab, 33840 Tampere, Finland
Veikko Valjus
Fastems Oy Ab, 33840 Tampere, Finland
Minna Lanz
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
In this paper, we address the most pressing challenges faced by the manufacturing sector, particularly the manufacturing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where the transition towards high-mix low-volume production and the availability of cost-effective solutions are crucial. To overcome these challenges, this paper presents 14 innovative solutions that can be utilized to support the introduction of agile manufacturing processes in SMEs. These solutions encompass a wide range of key technologies, including reconfigurable fixtures, low-cost automation for printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, computer-vision-based control, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) simulations, predictive maintenance based on Internet of Things (IoT), virtualization for operator training, intuitive robot programming using virtual reality (VR), autonomous trajectory generation, programming by demonstration for force-based tasks, on-line task allocation in human–robot collaboration (HRC), projector-based graphical user interface (GUI) for HRC, human safety in collaborative work cells, and integration of automated ground vehicles for intralogistics. All of these solutions were designed with the purpose of increasing agility in the manufacturing sector. They are designed to enable flexible and modular manufacturing systems that are easy to integrate and use while remaining cost-effective for SMEs. As such, they have a high potential to be implemented in the manufacturing industry. They can be used as standalone modules or combined to solve a more complicated task, and contribute to enhancing the agility, efficiency, and competitiveness of manufacturing companies. With their application tested in industrially relevant environments, the proposed solutions strive to ensure practical implementation and real-world impact. While this paper presents these solutions and gives an overview of their methodologies and evaluations, it does not go into their details. It provides summaries of comprehensive and multifaceted solutions to tackle the evolving needs and demands of the manufacturing sector, empowering SMEs to thrive in a dynamic and competitive market landscape.
