DEVELOPMENT OF TIME COMPRESSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR FAST RESPONSE MANUFACTURING

摘要

The term Time Compression Technologies describes a range of techniques and methods devised to reduce the total cycle time between expression of need and the delivery to market of the manufactured product. In time-based, fast response manufacturing, the objective is to minimize the non-productive delays in the design to manufacturing cycle. Tooling development times constitute a very significant component of this cycle. To overcome this formidable challenge, a new integrating framework has been developed that provides close coupling between component design, process planning and tooling stages. Concepts developed using this framework include a) design of components with assured fixturability, b) programmable assembly of fixtures on demand, c) fixture reconfiguration on the production floor, d) interactive refinement of workpiece design for superior manufacturability and e) automated evaluation of process planning, tooling, workpiece design and manufacturability criteria. The framework emphasizes ease of implementation, compatibility with existing manufacturing equipment / technologies and low overall system costs.