摘要

Background: Based on the concept of Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, production processes are optimised by machines connected to each other via intelligent communication systems (machines keep track of the process and adjust their own settings accordingly).Our objective was to achieve more reliable processes with shorter production times and, consequently, lower production costs.Methods: We examined the possibility of incorporating a robot into the panel cutting subprocess of the unique furniture manufacturing process of a timber company.Results: Currently, using robots in industrial practice is economical only in the case of mass production.Using robots in unique manufacturing calls for higher resource need.In order to examine which part of the furniture manufacturing process a robot can be incorporated into and what problems can be solved with the robotic arm, the first step is to look for any potential failures in the process, as well as causes of failure, by performing a process model-based Failure Mode and Effects Analysis.Following the exploration of potential causes of failure, we examined the possibility of involving a robotic arm as a measure of improvement.Accordingly, the robotic arm was programmed in a computerised environment.The parameters of the robotic arm were set using the software Mitsubishi RV-2AJ Cosimir Educational.As a next step, process simulation was used to examine the total production time and cost of the process with using the robotic arm. Conclusions:The implementation of robots is a relevant option in unique production systems, as an intelligent system is capable of identifying problems even at the origin of failures and therefore it allows to avoid delay and increase the precision of operation.