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A framework for the quality-oriented design of micro manufacturing process chains

Daniel Rippel (Intelligent Production Systems, BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH, Bremen, Germany)
Michael Lütjen (Logistics Factory, BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH, Bremen, Germany)
Bernd Scholz-Reiter (University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany)

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management

ISSN: 1741-038X

Article publication date: 26 August 2014

495

Abstract

Purpose

In micro cold forming, the high degree of technological dependencies between manufacturing, quality inspection and handling technologies leads to an extremely complex planning of process chains. In addition, the lack of standardised processes and interfaces further complicates the planning. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to provide consistent and comprehensive planning of micro manufacturing processes, this paper discusses a method, which integrates the planning of process flows, the planning of technological dependencies and capabilities, as well as of the corresponding material flow.

Findings

The paper presents the micro-process chain planning and analysis (μ-ProPlAn) framework. It consists of a specific modelling method, a simultaneous engineering procedure model for the model creation, as well as of methods for the analysis of technological dependencies and logistic key values along the modelled process chains.

Research limitations/implications

As the results presented in this paper originate from an on-going research project, the paper focuses on a detailed presentation of the modelling methodology and the procedure model.

Practical implications

In practice, the μ-ProPlAn framework provides process designers in the field of micro manufacturing with tools and methods to clearly depict the interdependencies between and within a product's different manufacturing stages.

Originality/value

By following a simultaneous engineering approach, μ-ProPlAn aims to reduce the efforts in process design by supporting the design of manufacturing processes in the early stages of the product design and by providing suitable methods for the analysis of these process chains.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the DFG (German Research Foundation) for Subproject C4 “Simultaneous Engineering” within the CRC 747 (Collaborative Research Center) “Mikrokaltumformen – Prozesse, Charakterisierung, Optimierung”.

Citation

Rippel, D., Lütjen, M. and Scholz-Reiter, B. (2014), "A framework for the quality-oriented design of micro manufacturing process chains", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 25 No. 7, pp. 1028-1048. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-11-2012-0110

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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