Process Optimization for Circuit Card Assembly

这项研究的目标是开发一种方法以及必要的方法和工具，使电路卡组装制造商能够确定电路卡组装的最优策略，并快速生成最优或接近最优的计划。其目标是在所需的产品组合上最大化总生产率。约束是设备的能力，包括材料处理、产品的材料清单、组件、技术和生产计划(所需的数量和批量)。研究的挑战是找到关于每个问题的足够通用的东西，以便可以派生出有用的通用解决方法。这项研究预计会有两种类型的结果。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工艺规划工具提供基础。这样的工具将使工艺规划者能够创建更高质量的工艺计划，比目前可能的提前期要短得多。对制造业的潜在好处是对不断变化的需求做出更快的反应，并不断改进组装工艺。其次，在给定特定的设置管理策略的情况下，将开发用于优化装配设备之间的部件分配以及装配系统物流中卡片类型的分组和排序的模型和算法。此外，研究还将探索比较不同的设置管理策略以及为特定情况选择最佳策略的方法。

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.