Strategies and case studies in assembly system selection

Selecting the most appropriate assembly system can offer enormous benefits in terms of product quality, cost reduction and manufacturing productivity. However, selecting the right system for a product depends on a large number of factors and is not a simple problem. Its solution requires considerable expertise and there is a lack of systematic approaches to support decision making in this area. The paper presents a strategy for selecting assembly systems for a product based on technological and economic considerations, including component and assembly design, component variability and production conditions. Application of the strategy is illustrated through the use of a number of industrial case studies across a range of business sectors. The case study reference data are provided in a common format to enable businesses to compare in the selection process.