Response surface method based robotic cells layout optimization in small part assembly

Small part assembly (SPA) in 3C industry is considered as the next giant market for the industrial robots, which have proven to be more cost effective in terms of flexibility, repeatability, and with new functions offer improved accuracy. However, high product volume in a quite short product lifecycle, short leading time for new product, and low added value per production step differentiates the robotic cells in 3C industry from those in the established automotive industry. The productivity normally determines the fortune of 3C manufacturing enterprises. Therefore, how to maximize the throughput of a robotic cell in SPA with optimal cell layout is highly demanded. This present work puts forward a practical methodology to minimized the cycle time for certain patterned robotic cell layouts in SPA, by applying response surface method (RSM). The optimization is performed not only with 3-dimension translation, but also together with rotation. Additionally, an available solution can be provided to the cell with two workstations/tasks simultaneously. The validation of this methodology has been carefully implemented with several kinds of practical cases, by achieving the optimum deployment of the workstations/tasks in the cell, with an incensement in productivity up to 15%. This is not a considerate improvement, but will bring a significant benefit to SPA manufacturer´s revenues.