Introduction of a novel, automated trolley in the parts supply processes for manufacturing systems

Abstract

Consulta en la Biblioteca ETSI Industriales (9140)

[EN] The following document explains and develops step by step a project carried out to improve logistics processes, ie to improve all movement and storage in order to facilitate the flow of products from the point of purchase materials to the point of consumption, and also information flows that appear in this process to give the consumer the right level of service at a reasonable cost. This initiative specifically includes only the logistics covering the moving process flow and storage products. The main objective that was pursued when this idea came up, was to improve supply processes of the various parts which form the final products that companies produce for later sale. It is well known that this part of the logistics is of vital importance since, a correct and accurate operation of the same, greatly reduces manufacturing costs and consequently will add value to the final product will be reflected in the satisfaction of client. For this was carried out to design a transport element that is equipped with an electronic device capable of providing information to the worker. This will prevent storage failures, loss of time generated in the processes of transport of elements and provides the employee an easier task and more productive. The transport element is referred to a trolley for the tranport of boxes, inside of which go the different parts, that must be placed in a warehouse equipped with many shelves or stations. The main objective is to tell the worker responsible of the transporting where to place each one of the boxes that have been loaded in the trolley. This is where comes in the electronic device installed in the trolley. This is an item that will be able to display on its screen the order of the stations where the employee has to stop to unload and which boxes should be unloaded at each station. To provide this information, before is needed to enter a prior information of the boxes that will be loaded into the trolley. For this will also equip the system with a barcode reader. Each box with its corresponding parts in it, will be provided with a bar code that will identify it perfectly. All bar codes of the boxes that are loaded into the trolley will be read by the barcode reader, this information will be processed by the system which, due to a programming language adapted to the needs of the process and a rigurous database entered into it, will be able to process it and show the user through a screen and light signals installed in the trolley, the order of the stations to be covered and which boxes must be discharged into the stations. The objective of this project has been supported throughout by the established ideas on the philosophy "Lean Manufacturing" that have brought many benefits to companies that have introduced it into their production processes.