Author : Gopal Parmar and Saurin Sheth

Automation is used to improve the productivity in majority of the industries. It helps in reducing the human intervention and improves a quality lot. Now, which process is to be automated, there is always a trade-off between initial cost and production cost. Assembly process along with the manufacturing of each part needs to be studied, to automate the desire manufacturing processes. Here a case of power switch is investigated and analysis is carried out in terms of the Automation strategy. Each process is analysed by parameters like efficiency, Accuracy, lead time, investment cost, productivity, capacity and running cost. The analysis suggests which process needs to be automated. Later on by seeing the physibility and by using mechatronics approach one can automate the required process.

Keywords: Power switch assembly, Automation, assembly cost, Case Study, Special Purpose Machine, Mechatronics

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.5, No.6 (Dec-2015)