Computer-Aided Manufacture and Robotics

Computer-Aided Manufacture and Robotics

Question 1

Manufacturing as a Technical and an Economic process

Manufacturing as a process can simply be defined as the production of products for use or sale thereby using tools, labor, machines, chemical, biological processing, or formulation. The process can be defined as both a technical and economic process. Manufacturing as a technical process can be defined as analysis, introduction, collection, arrangement and maintenance of the technologies and other technical methods that can be used to manufacture and repair various products and goods. The technical aspect of manufacturing is more concerned regarding the adaption of the updated technological equipment that would ensure high quality product with minimum effort and time. On the other hand, manufacturing as an economic process includes choosing equipment and methodologies that would ensure maximum production with minimum investment of capital. Hence, economies of a manufacturing method include utilizing all the available resources in a cost effective manner.

Key Characteristics of Various Types of Manufacturing Systems

The manufacturing systems can be classified into four simple categories or classes. These include

Manufacturing System

Characteristics

Products

Custom manufacturing systems

A single craftsman is responsible to make one item at a time by machine or by hand. If a machine is used, then it is highly specialized, and also capable of producing a single line of the merchandise. The system offers highest cost per unit and lowest efficiency resulting in very low production.

Handicrafts, pottery, etc.

Intermittent Manufacturing System

This system is capable of manufacturing multiple items simultaneously. These products must be identical. Moreover, they cannot be customized for the individual customers. This system is most suitable for limited production or for firms who wish to produce lower volume of goods.

Automobiles, etc.

Continuous Manufacturing System

This system facilitates mass production of goods. In such a system, a product moves along a predefined assembly line, where different workers perform specific tasks. This system allows firms to reduce per unit cost and meet their high production goals, and results in a lower per-unit cost.

For producing greater variety and greater volume of the product, the companies also require greater number of machines, greater labor force, and huge amount of resources.

Food items, soap, shampoo, etc.

Flexible Manufacturing System

This type of setup allows firms to invest in a wide range of machinery, which can be easily and quickly reconfigured to manufacture a greater or lower number of products as per demand.

Parts of automobiles, car engines, etc.

Current Major Trends in Manufacturing

Some of the recently observed manufacturing trends include

Outsourcing of labor services in order to reduce manufacturing cost to the low economic countries is generally experienced.

Automatic production and manufacturing systems are now preferred that includes computers, software, robots and other machinery to increase production quality and efficiency and reducing the need for the manual labor or assistance.

Policymakers and manufactures in recent times collaborate to find the perfect combination of tax, trade, energy, labor, science, education, technology and also industrial policy levers to improve production quality and quantity.

Question 2

Development of Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Systems and Role of a Computer ...