Integrated Product and Production Development Optimization

Purpose and goal

The primary aim of the project is to investigate the potential and feasibility of a new holistic optimization framework that exploits the synergies obtained by simultaneously optimizing the products design, it´s manufacturing processes and the production system. Through two pilot studies at Volvo Cars and AB Volvo, it has been shown that the proposed framework has great potential. The project has also gathered the most active Swedish research groups in the field of industrial optimization.

Results and expected effects

It has been confirmed that 70-80 percent of a product´s cost is determined at the design phase. Once the product is being manufactured, engineers have few options to reduce costs without starting over and therefore optimization of a product for efficient manufacture and assembly can eliminate waste. Furthermore, additional partners have been contacted with the aim to submit a Horizon 2020 proposal to continue the research with focus on flexible robotic assembly operations. We also plan a FFI application in the area of product and production system optimization.

Approach and implementation

The consortium has meet at the different partners and defined two pilot studies that have been conducted at Volvo Cars and AB Volvo. Furthermore, initial discussion has been undertaken with ABB and Scania. In the first study focused on machining operations and how optimization of a products design for efficient manufacture and assembly (DFMA) can eliminate waste. The other study focused on robotic assembly operations, and the analysis has led to the agreement of building a flexible robotic cell demonstrator based on the holistic optimization framework.