Simultaneous engineering the key to success

Citation

(2003), "Simultaneous engineering the key to success", Assembly Automation, Vol. 23 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2003.03323baf.003

Simultaneous engineering the key to success

Simultaneous engineering the key to success

Keywords: Simultaneous, Engineering

When Philips Speaker Systems were awarded the contract to manufacture a new micro-loudspeaker for one of the world’s leading mobile telephone suppliers, only 5 months remained for the development of a high-speed assembly system. Only one manufacturer, Mikron Assembly Technology had the experience of simultaneous engineering to make it happen (Plate 2).

After detailed evaluation of several system designs and suppliers, Philips selected Mikron’s Flexifactor, high performance cam driven linear assembly system to replace the less efficient rotary machines previously employed. The project was completed on time and the mobile phone was launched successfully.

Plate 2 Mikron has developed a new manufacturing system for Philips Speaker Systems in Vienna. The system took just 5 months to develop from initial concept to delivery

The greatest challenge that faced the Mikron engineers was the degree of accuracy required in the assembly of the tiny loud-speaker. With an overall diameter of only 13 mm and tolerances as small as 0.01 mm the ability of the assembly system to consistently deliver absolute precision while maintaining optimum cycle speed was vital. In particular, the development of a process to transfer, position and solder a 28 micron copper wire with pin-point accuracy required considerable ingenuity.

Certain assembly tasks required specific processes only available to Philips, so it was essential to keep those in-house. Thanks to the modular design of the Flexifactor system, the first cell of the assembly line in which most of these operations were to be carried out was delivered to the Vienna factory in only 3 months. This enabled the Philips specialists to undertake the fine-tuning of the processing stations while the rest of the system was being produced in parallel by Mikron’s engineers in Switzerland. This policy of simultaneous engineering was a major factor in delivering the system on time. The standardised interfaces ensured that the subsequent assembly and commissioning of the completed system at the Philips site was accomplished without difficulty.

Throughout the project regular scheduled meetings took place between Mikron’s project management team and the customer, as well as ad hoc discussions when fundamental changes needed to be made. Video conferencing was employed to keep travelling time to a minimum and e-mail was used for the prompt transfer of drawings and technical information.

Mikron used a system of actual-to-target comparisons to monitor progress, quality and project costs at every stage of the systems development. This management tool enabled Mikron to keep the processes under control and guaranteed compliance with the customers performance specifications and delivery requirements.

For more technical information contact: Richard Krusts, Regional Sales Manager, Mikron Assembly Technology, 74 Newland lane, Ash Green, Coventry, CV7 9BA, UK. Tel: 02476 366071; Fax: 02476 366084; E-mail: r.krusts@ch.mikron-tg.com