Study of the Application of Automation to Composites Manufacture

Abstract

Several alternative manufacturing technologies have been developed to replace current labor intensive manual fabrication methods for advanced thermoset composites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of direct labor savings, quality improvements and process flexibility on manufacturing cost and to identify desirable characteristics for new equipment. To estimate the cost benefits of replacing manual laborers with equipment, an economic model based on data from the literature and industry was developed. Knowledge of process physics and human error models was used to assess overall quality and estimate related costs such as rework, inspection and scrap. To evaluate process flexibility, system simulation techniques were used to analyze the tradeoffs between response time, work-in-progress inventory, equipment utilization and manufacturing cost. Keywords: Composites; Manufacturing; Automation; Resign transfer molding; Pultrusion; Filament winding; Economic analysis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA211049

Entities

People

  • Susan M. Krolewski

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Material Fabrication
  • Composite Materials
  • Engineers
  • Fiber Reinforced Polymers
  • Manufacturing
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Mechanics
  • Reinforced Plastics
  • Three Dimensional

Readers

  • Industrial Economics
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Reinforced Composite Materials