Multivariable automation decisions for volume and product-flexible flow assembly

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Existing methods for determining the optimal level of automation of an assembly line do not take account of the production environment as classified selection criteria. They also lack a sufficient decision-theoretical foundation. Moreover, no method exists to determine the economic level of automation, which is based on a necessary degree of adaptability. In existing research projects only methods for achieving an adaptable assembly system structure have been developed without deriving the necessary level of adaptability. In addition, the methods are not working dynamically but statically. Because of this, it is not possible to adapt the planning effort on the investment volume of the project to efficiently implement smaller projects.Therefore this research project aims to develop a method for determining the optimal level of automation of a volume and product-flexible flow assembly. The method supports automation decisions based on multivariable criteria in early stages of planning. The decision-making ability is boosted by selecting of and focusing on production environment context-relevant decision factors. The decision quality will be improved by using methods of the decision theory and the investment calculation. The effort for making decisions will be reduced which in turn leads to adjustment reduction of investment volumes. For this purpose, an analysis method is developed and implemented in a softwaretool.