Innovations in window manufacturing through implementation of automation and robotic technologies

All Weather Windows是加拿大最大的门窗制造商，在埃德蒙顿拥有最先进的制造设施。ACQBUILD，Inc.，总部也设在埃德蒙顿，经营着北美领先的住宅建筑制造工厂，从设计和预制到交付和现场组装，进行住宅建筑业务。两家公司都在寻求通过更智能地使用自动化、机器视觉、自动化物料处理系统以及更高效的供应管理和物流来提升竞争优势。因此，研究小组建议：（1）调查、研究和开发新的未增塑聚氯乙烯焊接技术、材料和机械，用于提高窗框的质量，目的是减少所需的人力，从而减少整体生产成本和周期时间;（2）设计和开发自动化物料搬运系统，以减少总制造时间，并通过精心设计的物料移动、人体工程学分析和人机协作，实现重型材料和设备的更安全操作;（3）设计和开发自动化目视检查系统，这将有助于满足质量控制和保证标准和规范，从而降低返工率和制造过程中的浪费，同时确保客户满意度;和（4）通过分销实践、卡车车队管理和技术创新的结合，通过改善供应链管理，显著提高供应链效率。工业合作伙伴将受益于基于研究突破实施的生产能力提高和产品质量提高。这项研究将使整个加拿大受益，因为广泛采用这些新技术和日益有效的方法将使加拿大公司在全球市场上保持竞争力，并提供具有成本效益的产品。待开发的算法将为进一步研究制造过程和系统的优化、规划、控制和自动化奠定基础。

All Weather Windows is Canada's largest window and door manufacturer, operating a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Edmonton. ACQBUILT, Inc., also based in Edmonton, operates North America's leading residential construction manufacturing facility, carrying out homebuilding operations from design and prefabrication to delivery and onsite assembly. Both are seeking to boost their competitive edge through more intelligent use of automation, machine vision, automated material handling systems, and more efficient supply management and logistics. Accordingly, the research team proposes to (1) investigate, research, and develop new unplasticized polyvinyl chloride welding technologies, materials, and machinery which can be used to improve the quality of window frames, with the aim of reducing the amount of human effort required and, accordingly, the overall production cost and cycle time; (2) design and develop an automated material handling system to reduce total manufacturing time and enable safer operations with regard to heavy materials and equipment through well-designed material movement, ergonomic analysis, and human-robotic collaboration; (3) design and develop automated visual inspection systems, which will assist with meeting quality control and assurance standards and specifications, thereby lowering rework rates and manufacturing process waste while ensuring customer satisfaction; and (4) achieve-through a combination of distribution practices, truck fleet management, and technological innovations-marked improvements in supply chain efficiency by improving supply chain management. The industrial partners stand to benefit from an increased production capacity and better product quality based on the implementation of research breakthroughs. This research will benefit Canada as a whole, as the broad adoption of these new technologies and increasingly efficient methods will allow Canadian companies to remain competitive in the global market and deliver cost-effective products. The algorithms to be developed will establish a foundation for further research in optimization, planning, control, and automation of manufacturing processes and systems.