Challenges of handling assembly information in global manufacturing companies

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe challenges the manufacturing industry is currently facing when developing future assembly information systems. More specific, this paper focuses on the handling of assembly information from manufacturing engineering to the shop floor operators. Design/methodology/approach Multiple case studies have been conducted within one case company between 2014 and 2017. To broaden the perspective, interviews with additionally 17 large and global manufacturing companies and 3 industry experts have been held. Semi-structured interviews have been the main data collection method alongside observations and web questionnaires. Findings Six focus areas have been defined which address important challenges in the manufacturing industry. For manual assembly intense manufacturing company, challenges such as IT challenges, process challenges, assembly process disturbances, information availability, technology and process control, and assembly work instructions have been identified and hinder implementation of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Originality/value This longitudinal study provides a current state analysis of the challenges the manufacturing industry is facing when handling assembly information. Despite the vast amount of initiatives within I4.0 and digitalization, this paper argues that the manufacturing industry needs to address the six defined focus areas to become more flexible and prepared for the transition toward a digitalized manufacturing industry.

Implementing Industry 4.0: assessing the current state

“…The second cluster, which we will refer to as the case-study cluster, comprises of four articles. The articles in the case-study cluster explore in detail how separate manufacturing companies implemented Industry 4.0 (Hermann et al, 2020;Johansson et al, 2020;Veile et al, 2020;Schott et al, 2020). Hence, this cluster answers how Industry 4.0 is implemented in practice by manufacturing companies and thereby partly answers research question 2 (How to implement Industry 4.0?…”

“…The case-study cluster describing how to implement Industry 4.0 The next four articles study how Industry 4.0 can be implemented in practice and what the challenges are during implementation (Hermann et al, 2020;Johansson et al, 2020;Veile et al, 2020;Schott et al, 2020). These articles study cases of companies that implemented Industry 4.0.…”

“…The fifth article has the title "Challenges of Handling Assembly Information in Global Manufacturing Companies" (Johansson et al, 2020). This article focuses on assembly information systems in manufacturing companies of complex products (vehicles, transport systems, machinery or equipment).…”

Industry 4.0 technologies usage: motives and enablers

“…The awareness that I4 technologies' adoption and use not only brings forth advantages but also challenges (Johansson et al, 2019;Szalavetz, 2019;Zheng et al, 2019) poses a number of questions of which one of the most important is "What drives I4 technologies' usage?". While integrating and using a disruptive technology early can provide a small company with an opportunity to compete with larger competitors, the adoption of a poor-fitting technology may not lead to the subsequent use of such technology and is likely to leave the company at a competitive disadvantage (Tellis, 2006).…”

Industry 4.0 enabling technologies for increasing operational flexibility in final assembly

“…A standard structure of an assembly plant is as follows: stamping, body shop, paint and final assembly [21]. This paper will focus on the final assembly, which is the final stage of the product realisation process with a high added value within the products and with historically low technical and digital capabilities [22], [23]. This area has not been the main focus of industry4.0 realisation.…”