Process Optimization for Circuit Card Assembly

本研究的目标是开发一种方法和必要的方法和工具，使电路卡组装制造商能够确定电路卡组装的最佳策略，并快速生成最佳或接近最佳的计划。目标是在期望的产品组合上最大化总生产率。限制条件是设备能力，包括物料处理、产品的物料清单、组件、技术和生产计划（所需的数量和批量大小）。研究的挑战在于找到每个问题足够的通用性，从而推导出有用的通用性解决方法。本研究预计会产生两种结果。首先，将为一系列装配设备类型的工艺优化开发模型和算法。这些算法将使用来自实际电路卡组装操作的案例研究数据进行演示。最终，这些算法应该为自动化或半自动化的过程规划工具提供基础。这样的工具将使工艺计划人员能够以比目前可能的更短的交货时间创建更高质量的工艺计划。对制造业的潜在好处是更快地响应不断变化的需求和不断改进装配过程。其次，给定特定的设置管理策略，将开发模型和算法来优化装配设备之间的组件分配以及装配系统物料流中卡片类型的分组和排序。此外，研究将探讨方法，比较备选设置管理策略和选择最佳策略，为给定的情况。

The goal of this research is to develop an approach and the necessary methodologies and tools to allow circuit card assembly manufacturers to determine the optimal strategy for circuit card assembly, and to rapidly generate optimal or near-optimal plans. The objective is to maximize total production rate over a desired product mix. The constraints are the equipment capabilities, including material handling, the products' bills of materials, component, technologies, and the production plan (quantities and lot sizes required) for some planning horizon. The research challenge is to find enough that is generic about each problem so that a useful generic solution method can be derived. Two types of results are anticipated from the research. First, models and algorithms will be developed for the process optimization for a range of assembly equipment types. These algorithms will be demonstrated using case study data from actual circuit card assembly operations. Ultimately, these algorithms should provide the basis for automated or semi-automated process planning tools. Such tools would enable process planners to create higher quality process plans, with much shorter lead times than is currently possible. The potential benefit to manufacturing is faster response to changing requirements and continuous improvement of the assembly process. Second, given a particular setup management strategy, models and algorithms will be developed for optimizing the assignment of components among assembly equipment and the grouping and sequencing of card types within the assembly system material flow. In addition, the research will explore methods for comparing alternative setup management strategies and for selecting the best strategy for a given situation.