A Case Study on Optimizing an Industrial Robot cell using Simulation as a tool

The dynamic changes in the manufacturing sector have increased the competition between the industries. To sustain these disruptive changes and maintain competitiveness in the global market, companies need to continually improve their production performance, successfully developing and implementing innovative production practices, and producing high-quality products in shorter lead times at optimum costs. The variations and fluctuations in customer demands can be satisfied by introducing new technologies into manufacturing systems, which brings in varying flexibility and agility character into production. Introduction of robots in manufacturing system have increased the productivity and quality of the processes. Effective and efficient programming helps achieve flexibility in the production process because the robot programming aids the robot to perform various tasks and motion. ABB RobotStudio is one type of offline programming and simulation software that helps in stimulating the robot using a Virtual Robot controller. The simulation tool lets users recreate the production environment and program a robot and calculate the cycle time without a real robot. This case study's objective is used to evaluate the aspect of simulation to be integrated into the case company's production development process and the use of simulation in optimizing the robot cell. Therefore, a case study was conducted at LEAX Group AB, a manufacturing industry. ABB RobotStudio was a tool used in this case study to simulate the existing production system. The empirical findings have shown the mapping of flow and process mapping of the robot cell in LEAX Group. The empirical part highlights the building of the existing simulation model of the robot cell. The challenges faced while simulating the model are also discussed. The analysis part highlights the optimization of the robot cell and the integration of the simulation model into the production development process. Finally, a conclusion has been drawn by answering two research questions, and a recommendation is given. The conclusion highlights the integration of simulation in the production development process and the process of optimizing the robot cell.