Simulation model of robotic manufacturing line

Abstract

The problem of production flow in the manufacturing line is analyzed. The machines can be operated by workers or by robots. Since breakdowns and human factors affect the destabilization of the production processes, robots are preferred to apply. The problem is how to determine the real difference in work efficiency between human and robot. Analysis of the production efficiency and reliability of the press shop lines operated by human operators or industrial robots are presented. This is a problem from the field of Operation Research area and Discrete Events Simulation (DES) method have been used. Two models have been developed including manufacturing line before and after robotization and taking into account stochastic parameters of availability and reliability of the machines, operators and robots. We apply OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) indicator to present how the availability and reliability parameters influence over performance of the workstation, in particular in the short time and long time period. Also the stability of simulation model was analyzed.