Analysis of Simulation tool for Future Flexible Assembly lines

Sammanfattning: Volvo trucks can be ordered with many options to meet customers' demands. This challenges the efficiency of the manufacturing process, especially at the final assembly line where bare chassis are customised with parts and accessories. In the future, assembly lines may be more flexible to allow for assembly of different parts at higher efficiency. This thesis presents problem areas in traditional assembly lines and proposes a proof-of-concept for future flexible assembly line sequencing, as well as a computer simulation tool with the capability to evaluate variances in production capacity when trucks of different size and parts are assembled in consecutive order. Virtual models of flexible assembly lines are constructed as part of a software solution and used to simulate production sequences of varying truck configurations. Data collected from all simulations show a correlation between production capacity and the order in which vehicles are produced. The assembly line configuration itself has also shown to greatly impact efficiency and might lead to an improvement of at least 39%, as well as limitations of tools and workers with specific capabilities. However, the presented performance numbers do not represent all possible simulation outcomes, which beyond the assembly line configuration also depend on things like product complexity and the assembly sequence of individual products.