Efficiency improvement for a window manufacturer through automation, process improvement, and waste reduction

通过自动化、流程改进和减少浪费提高窗户制造商的效率

• 批准号: 536466-2018
• 负责人: Mohamed, Yasser
• 金额: $ 6.13万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=699271
• 关键词: Efficiency; improvement; window; manufacturer; through

All Weather Windows (AWW) is a major window and door manufacturer with nine branches across Canada. Its production process involves many inherent complexities, as AWW produces multiple types of windows and doors at a high volume. AWW is seeking to increase quality while broadening the range of its product offerings, increase its operational efficiency, reduce material waste and rework, and update its estimation procedures. To achieve the production-related goals, the research will encompass the following tasks: (1) production line refinement using simulation and material usage optimization (including detailed workstation analysis and simulation and work centre mapping; (2) Efficiency improvement of automated welders and saws; and (3) research and development for window manufacturing (including development of an in-house thermal testing and development of motorized automated casement windows. Through this research project, AWW aims to eliminate the inefficient practice of outsourcing thermal testing of new window products, to reduce rework by half, to reduce material waste by 20%, to plan and begin fabrication of an automated window casement for integration with smart home platforms, and to increase estimation accuracy in order to reduce inventory discrepancies. The integration of automated window casement fabrication into the window fabrication process constitutes a novel technical solution, while the design and construction of a thermal testing chamber, and algorithms to further automate the production process, will contribute to the existing knowledge base in these areas. It can be expected that through this project the industry partner will benefit through (1) improved productivity, (2) development of affordable and practical automated machinery support for operational processes, and (3) the development of an efficient and cost-effective construction manufacturing system. The research can be expected to contribute to the industry in general by decreasing production costs and time, and by increasing quality and durability.

全天候窗（AWW）是一家主要的门窗制造商，在加拿大有九家分公司。其生产过程涉及许多固有的复杂性，因为AWW大量生产多种类型的门窗。AWW正在寻求提高质量，同时扩大其产品供应范围，提高其运营效率，减少材料浪费和返工，并更新其评估程序。为了达到生产相关的目标，本研究将包含以下工作：（1）利用模拟和材料使用优化的生产线改进（2）提高自动焊机和自动锯的效率;及（3）窗户制造的研究及开发（包括开发内部热测试及开发电动自动平开窗）。通过这个研究项目，AWW旨在消除外包新窗户产品热测试的低效做法，减少一半的返工，减少20%的材料浪费，计划并开始制造自动化窗扇，以与智能家居平台集成，并提高估计准确性，以减少库存差异。将自动化窗扇制造集成到窗户制造过程中构成了一种新的技术解决方案，而热测试室的设计和建造以及进一步自动化生产过程的算法将有助于这些领域的现有知识库。可以预期，通过该项目，行业合作伙伴将受益于（1）提高生产率，（2）开发经济实用的自动化机械支持操作流程，以及（3）开发高效且具有成本效益的建筑制造系统。这项研究可以通过降低生产成本和时间，提高质量和耐用性来为整个行业做出贡献。