Planning of Logistics for Large-scale Production of Metal-plastic-hybrid Components

AbstractAccording to the current state-of-the-art, manufacturing of components made of metal-plastic-hybrid materialsis done in discrete manufacturing steps using basic technologies. The goal of the German Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE (Technologies for Multifunctional Lightweight Structures) is to combine different technologies such as plastics injection molding and metal die casting by merging them and gear them towards the requirements of large-scale-production as well as energy efficiency. Thereby, new key technologies and corresponding manufacturing systems are required.The objectives of the factory planners of the “Technische Universität Chemnitz” within MERGE were to realize a literature survey that explores conventional characteristics of large-scale-production (LSP) and to define characteristics specifically for LSP of metal-plastic-hybrid components. A literature survey that explores existing logistic concepts and planning procedures was also done. Based on this, a logistics concept and a logistics planning procedure for production systems for multifunctional lightweight structures that are produced by means of merged processes were developed. Moreover, new opportunities for production and logistic applications through the integration of sensors into metal-plastic-hybrid components were explored