Enhancing work-cell productivity using a collaborative design approach

Abstract

A novel punching press work-cell has been developed. It incorporates many innovative features that are based around continuous production using coiled metal. The punching system within the overall work-cell has such a high productivity that problems associated with material handling became apparent. These problems prevented the work-cell from operating as its theoretical maximum production efficiency. A collaborative design team was formed, including academic and industry representatives, to review the existing punching press work-cell prototype in a systematic fashion. This review discovered weaknesses within the existing systems and functional elements, and quantified them. A detailed rese..