Edouard, M B; Camille, J; Vincent, B and Améziane, A (2025) Design for mixed model final assembly line (dfmmfal): A new tool for assembly interface identification based on assembly process planning. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 23(1), pp. 143-160. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to fulfil a need to identify assembly interfaces from existing products based on their Assembly Process Planning (APP). It proposes a tool to identify assembly interfaces responsible for reused components integration. It is integrated into a design for mixed model final assembly line approach by focusing on the identification of assembly interfaces as a generic tool. It aims to answer the problem of interfaces' identification from the APP. Design/methodology/approach: A tool is developed to identify assembly interfaces responsible for reused component integration. It is based on the use of a rule-based algorithm that analyses an APP and then submits the results to prohibition lists to check their relevance. The tool is then tested using a case study. Finally, the resulting list is subjected to a visual validation step to validate whether the identified interface is a real interface. Findings: The results of this study are a tool named ICARRE which identify assembly interfaces using three steps. The tool has been validated by a case study from the helicopter industry. Research limitations/implications: As some interfaces are not contained in the same assembly operations and therefore, may not have been identified by the rule-based algorithm. More research should be done by testing and improving the algorithm with other case studies. Practical implications: The paper includes implications for new product development teams to address the difficulties of integrating reused components into different products. Originality/value: This paper presents a tool for identifying interfaces when sources of knowledge do not allow the use of current methods.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | assembly interface; assembly process plan; dfmmfal; mmfal; product development; reuse design |
| Index terms: | testing, assembly line, new product development, case study, product development, validation, methodology, integration |
| Subjects: | professional practice, innovation studies, manufacturing engineering, research methods, data collection methods, organizational analysis, professional development |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here