Chapter ten Empirical investigation on implications of configurator applications for mass customization

ABSTRACT This chapter focuses on the design of assembly lines and systems for the production of mass customized products. It reviews the state of the art in mass customization (MC) and mass customized manufacturing (MCM) to give an overview of existing research, actual findings, and future trends of manufacturing and assembly systems for this application. A framework for a systematic design of assembly for MC products is described. The framework discusses product design requirements, the design of mass customization assembly (MCA) systems, the requirements for MC shop floor management in assembly, as well as opportunities for MCA through the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). Afterward, a real case study at a medium-sized manufacturer of electromotors shows an example of successful assembly systems design for make-to-order 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 16 2.2 Theoretical background ......................................................................... 16 2.3 Framework for the design of highly changeable production systems for mass customization assembly.......................................... 19 2.3.1 Product design-related aspects for mass customization assembly ....................................................................................... 20 2.3.2 Design of flexible and reconfigurable mass customization assembly systems .............................................. 22 2.3.3 Operation and shop floor management of mass customization assembly systems .............................................. 25 2.3.4 Smart mass customization assembly systems: Opportunities through the fourth industrial revolution ...... 26 2.4 Industrial case study .............................................................................. 29 2.5 Conclusion and outlook ......................................................................... 31 References .......................................................................................................... 32 production with high product variety and mass customized products. The experience from the case study shows a concept based on the combination of manual assembly and automated stations as well as the integration of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the assembly process. The chapter closes with a brief summary of the guidelines for assembly systems design for MC and the experience from the case study. Further, the conclusions give an outlook to future research activities.