Impact of product family complexity on process performance in electronic component assembly

Abstract

With the advent of Industry 4.0 and the impending shift towards Industry 5.0, the integration of human–robot collaboration (HRC) into production systems has become increasingly widespread. This paradigm shift leverages collaborative robots, or cobots, to mitigate physical and mental strain on human workers, thereby increasing productivity and improving overall quality performance. This paper investigates the interplay of productivity and quality factors with assembly complexity in both manual and collaborative assembly systems. The focus is placed on a product family of electronic boards, with varying levels of assembly complexity, to provide a comprehensive comparison between manual assembly and two different collaborative assembly scenarios. Key performance metrics such as assembly time and total defects are evaluated. This case study, rooted in the electronics industry, seeks to provide a valuable perspective on how assembly complexity influences productivity and quality in product family assembly systems. The results of this study aim to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the implementation of HRC in manufacturing, facilitate informed decision-making and encourage further advances in this rapidly evolving field.