Theories and models are developed to facilitate design of in-plant materials
supply systems with high performance in terms of efficiency, flexibility,
ergonomics and support to assembly operations.
The objective of the
project is to develop knowledge to understand and evaluate in-plant materials
supply system impact on the areas: cost, time, and energy efficiency; volume and
variant flexibility; health and safety and ergonomics; support to the assembly
operations. Within the design of an in-plant materials supply system, a central
issue is the choice of materials feeding principle. For the project, continuous
supply, kitting, and sequenced deliveries combined with kitting, are seen as the
materials feeding principles of most interest.
The project will develop
knowledge with both industrial and academic significance in areas as:
theoretical models for understanding of in-plant material supply systems, when
and how different materials feeding principles should be used, development of
sustainable and competitive in-plant materials supply strategies, definition of
standard materials supply methods and methods to present materials at
workstations, operationalisation of materials feeding principles, ergonomics in
materials handling, KPI:s for evaluating supply methods.
The following
main fields of applications have been identified: influence on design of overall
materials supply strategies in companies, implementations and installations in
industry of systems in for example picking information system, box and pallet
handling.
Organizations involved in addition to Logistics and
Transportation: AB Volvo, Volvo Cars, FKG, Scania, Saab Automobile,
Chalmers
Duration: 2009-2012
Funded by:
VINNOVA program FFI - Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation,
Sustainable Production Technology
Project leader: Kitty
Muffolini, Saab Automobile
Members: Robin Hanson, Lars Medbo
and Carl Wänström Division of Logistics and Transportation
Contact
person Logistics and Transportation: Lars Medbo