3.1.1d Production Techniques & Systems

• Computer aided design (CAD) allows designers to draw, design and model on screen.

  Products can be designed in one location and made at a location in another part of the country or another part of the world.
• CAD : computer aided design
• CAD is using computer software to draw, design and model on screen
• CAM is computer aided manufacture
• CAM is manufacturing products designed by CAD
• Robotic automation of manufacturing processes offers much greater consistency, accuracy, reliability and productivity than human workers
• Flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a system where production is organised into cells of machines performing different tasks
• Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools that are controlled by a comuputer
• Just-in-time (JIT) systems aim to reduce the amount of stock held at any one time
• Lean manufacturing aims to eliminate all forms of wastage from the production process
• The main types of lean manufacturing techniques include value stream mapping, kaizen events, pull systems, continuous improvement and total productive maintenance.
• • CAM uses Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and CAD files to generate 3D tool paths for the machinery to follow
• • CAM machinery includes laser cutters, embroidery machines, CNC milling machines, routers and lathes
• → products are nested to make maximum use of material in stock form.
• Digital designs are converted into a series of x, y, z coordinates for the machine to follow (0,0,0 = datum)
• FMS involve an assembly of automated machines commonly used on short-run batch production lines where the products frequently change
• Palletised materials and part storage being provided by a automated storage and material handling system
• JIT = method of organising a factory so that materials and components are ordered to arrive at the product assembly plant just in time for production.