Introduction
A manufacturing system includes four different components together with the production machine, material handling system, computer control system, and human resources (Lee, 1998). In recent times, due to the technological advancement, automation of manufacturing systems has continued to become prevalent. A key aspect in the contemporary automotive manufacturing systems and automotive industries is automation. An automated manufacturing system alludes to an intersected or interrelated system of material processing stations with the capability of automatically processing an extensive range of part types simultaneously under computer control. Imperatively, the system is not just interlinked by a material transport system but also interconnected by a communication network for assimilating all aspects of manufacturing. This sort of system portrays flexibility in handling, routing, processes, and changing of tools. Also, an automated manufacturing system demonstrates key features, including a high magnitude of automation, integration, and flexibility (Swamidass, 2000). This paper examines the four different parts of a manufacturing system and provide a comprehensive discussion of the future of the automotive industry and automotive manufacturing systems.
Manufacturing Systems in Automotive Industry
A manufacturing system is delineated as a set of integrated equipment and human resources that carry out one or more processing as well as assembly processes on a starting work material, components, or set of components. The integrated equipment comprises of production machines, material handling, and positioning instruments, and computer systems. In this automotive system, human resources are necessitated either part-time or full time to guarantee that the equipment continues operating. Also, automation within the automotive alludes to the usage of control systems, for instance, robotics and computers, as well as information technologies for dealing with various procedures and machinery within an industry to supplant a human being (Groover, 2007).
In the contemporary setting, there is progressively more automation in automotive systems and industries as a whole. Initially, the objective of automation was increasing the level of productivity and also decreasing the cost linked to human system operators. Nonetheless, in the present day, the emphasis of automation has shifted towards increasing the quality levels and also flexibility within a manufacturing system. Specifically, automation minimizes the blunder linked with human beings. Also, different from human beings, robots and machines do not encompass any sort of fatigue, which gives rise to products with consistent and unchanging quality manufactured at various times (Joshi et al., 2018). Through automation, programming of robotics can facilitate the functioning of any task, and this ensures that the manufacturing process is more flexible. Automation also facilitates high information precision and high safety. Notably, industrial automation can guarantee the production line to be significantly safer for personnel by organizing robots to tackle hazardous situations. More so, incorporating automated data gathering can enable the firm to gather key manufacturing information, enhance data precision, and diminish data gathering expenses (Lamb, 2013).
Production Machine
The majority of the manufacturing process in automotive manufacturing systems is carried out by machines in some form of way. Specifically, the categorization of machines about the involvement of the worker in the manufacturing undertaking is grouped into three classifications including manually-operated, semi-automated, or completed automated. In the present day, based on increased automation and computerization, it implies that the production machines are either semi-automated or completely automated (O'Sullivan. 2009). To begin with, semi-automated machines carry out a proportion of the work process cycle under computerized control, and thereafter an employee takes up control for the remaining phases of the cycle. For instance, a semi-automated machine can be signified by a computer numerical control lathe machine, whereby the machine carries out its processing operation in line with the automated program, and thereafter, the employee is necessitated to unpack and replenish the machine for the following work process cycle. It is essential for the employee to tend to the machine during every work cycle. However, the employee does not need to be incessantly present (O'Sullivan. 2009). Completely automated product machines are the ones with the ability to function and operate devoid of any human involvement for the periods that are lengthier than simply one work cycle. Without a doubt, some kind of machine attention and servicing will be necessitated every so often; for instance, reloading the work machine with raw materials. In the automotive industry, production machines provide key advantages for the vehicle's automation. These comprise of automated assembly systems, gauging and measuring, feeding of the different automated parts, and checking and inspection systems.
Over the past number of decades, automation in manufacturing systems and industries has encompassed the transformation of factory floorboards and surfaces, the aspect of manufacturing employment,...
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