0.1 Today’s assembly systems……… 2

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INDEX

Chapter 0: INTRODUCTION………...……. 1

0.1 Today’s assembly systems……… 2

0.2 Outsourcing………. 4

0.3 Manual vs Automated Assembly……….. 5

0.4 Micro-assembly……… 9

0.5 Flexibility………. 11

Chapter 1: NEW PARADIGM………... 18

1.1 Automatic Assembly Systems: the weaknesses of present approaches……… 18

1.2 Evolvable Paradigm……… 22

1.3 Setting of Evolvable Assembly System………. 26

1.4 Cost reductions achievable by EAS………. 29

Chapter 2: THIS PROJECT……… 30

2.1 General Purposes……… 30

2.2 Summary of the work’s steps………... 30

2.3 Limitations………... 36

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Chapter 3: GENERAL ONTOLOGY………. 37

3.1 Introduction………. 37

3.2 Overview……….. 37

3.2.1 What is in an ontology?………... 37

3.2.1.1 Classes………. 38

3.2.1.2 Attributes……….. 38

3.2.1.3 Instances……….. 39

3.2.1.4 Relationships……… 39

3.2.2 Why develop an ontology?………... 40

3.3 Necessity of a process-oriented Ontology………... 43

3.4 EUPASS Ontology………... 44

3.4.1 Classes………. 45

3.4.1.1 Skills………. 47

3.4.1.2 Module………. 48

3.4.1.3 Process………. 49

3.4.1.4 Equipment……… 50

3.4.2 Relationships……… 50

3.4.3 Attributes……….. 54

3.5 General Ontology……… 55

3.5.1 Class of Products………. 58

3.5.2 Process………. 59

3.5.2.1 Machining Process……….. 61

3.5.2.2 Assembly Process………. 62

3.5.3 Activity………. 74

3.5.4 Skill……….. 76

3.5.5 General Equipment……….. 79

3.5.5.1 Manufacturing Equipment………... 81

3.5.5.2 Assembly Equipment……… 85

3.5.6 EAS Module………. 103

3.5.7 Assembly System……….. 106

3.6 Conclusions……….. 107

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Chapter 4: Test case ELECTROLUX® …..………... 108

4.1 Introduction………. 108

4.2 Products studied……….. 109

4.2.1 Washing machine porthole handles………. 109

4.2.1.1 Components………. 110

4.2.1.2 Chosen Washing machine porthole handle: “DELTA” model……… 116

4.2.2 Electric valves groups……….. 121

4.2.2.1 Components………. 122

4.2.2.2.Chosen Electric valve group……… 129

4.3 DFA2……… 133

4.3.1 Handle Analysis………... 134

4.3.2 Electric Valve Group Analysis………. 143

4.4 Assembly cycles………... 147

Chapter 5: SPECIFIC ONTOLOGIES………... 148

5.1 Washing Machine Handles Specific Ontology……… 148

5.1.1 Processes………. 148

5.1.2 Activities……….. 151

5.1.3 Skills………. 153

5.1.4 General Equipments……… 154

5.2 Washing Machine Electric Valve Groups Specific Ontology……….. 156

5.2.1 Processes………. 156

5.2.2 Activities………..… 156

5.2.3 Skills………. 158

5.2.4 General Equipments……… 160

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Chapter 6: LAYOUT……….. 162

Chapter 7: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION………... 169

7.1 Ontology Upgrades……….. 169

7.2 The ELECTROLUX® Test case………... 170

7.3 Emergent Behaviour……… 171

7.4 Future Development……… 172

REFERENCES………... 174

Appendix: PRODUCTS’ DRAWINGS……….. 176