From Screwdriving to Laser Welding
During the assembly process of the PSSycle AG’s e-bikes, the control electronics unit is currently manually screwed to the bike’s frame. While the process is fast and easy, the fixture by screws can get loose by vibrations during driving and is an easy target for vandalism. For this reason, the PSSycle AG is evaluating an alternative technology – laser welding – for the assembly process. Laser welding is also considered as the cheaper solution for high volumen production, however, the installation is expensive.
On their way to plan and manage this change of the manufacturing system, the PSSycle AG uses the following models and procedures of the SFB768:
Is laser welding more suitable than screw driving?
To verify that laser welding is the more suitable technology for the fixing of the control unit, a technology evaluation is necessary. The evaluation result represents the suitability of a production technology over time and shows the ideal period for switching the technology.
Inputs
In preparation of the technology evaluation, the PSSycle AG collects the necessary data:
- Producion volume and production phases
- Requirements and properties (cost, quality, flexibility, sustainability, prod. feasibility, interconnectivity)
- Alternative technologies
Application and Results
Further details
Sources
What are the important elements of change management?
The PSSycle AG uses the CM context model to understand the elements of a change management and their interpendencies.
Covering system-based, explanatory, ontology-oriented and hierarchical characteristics, the context model comprises all relevant elements belonging to change management in a manufacturing environment, as well as their functional interaction and likewise consider hierarchical arranged sub-systems relating to the elements (which could be sub-systems themselves). The developed context model (cf. figure) is characterized by a symmetrical, division into MCM respectively ECM bisections, both highly interrelated, but also with the ability to operate independently from each other. Both, the ECM and the MCM section comprise the same class of elements (‘change management process’, ‘change itself’, ‘object of change’) and are furthermore linked by the two elements ‘change cause’ and ‘supporting framework’.
Change causes initially trigger the necessity for a MC (or EC) and hence start out on a MCM (or ECM) process. This element is composed of eleven specific change causes, building symmetrically grouped sub-systems to the superordinate element. The specific change causes are listed in the figure below and correspond to either manufacturing, product development or general occurrences.
Manufacturing Changes (MCs) comprises relevant attributes for the specification of a MC and describes the intended impact on the factory. MCs are highly interrelated with other elements and can even serve as trigger for change causes themselves.
The MCM process facilitates the process-oriented approach of MCM by prescribing a reference procedural model for the systemic change management in manufacturing. It is constituted of a combination of a Stage-Gate system and a process architecture system (PAF) which contribute stages, gates, activities and deliverables to the process . Due to its multitude of touch points and interdependencies with other elements, it builds the inherent core of MCM, reasoning the dedication of an own page to the MCM process.
The factory describes the grouped production factors fulfilling a defined part of the value stream to produce a tangible item – the product . It is affected by MCs and can represent the trigger for a change cause.
The two sub-domains ‘role’ and ‘method & tool’ determine the element process support, that sets up a guiding framework for the MCM context model. Its purpose is to provide guidance and the equipment for simplification of the MCM implementation, to assign clear responsibilities and to avail valuable process information.
The three remaining context model elements ECM process, Engineering Change (EC) and product can be considered as counterparts of the MCM-specific elements MCM process, MC and factory with comparable sub-systems and interrelations to other elements.
Inputs
No inputs required.
Application and Results
Sources
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