TOMI minifactory management - A platform for mini and micro assembly factories

Abstract

Custom-made products and miniaturization are current issues. This have given rise to demands for developing new methods and concepts for factory assembly production. The minifactory concept was developed to meet these demands. In order to make the minifactory operational it was necessary to create a factory management system. This thesis is a part of a 3-year research project called TOMI (Towards Mini and Micro Assembly Factories) conducted in the Institute of Production Engineering at Tampere University of Technology. The objective of the thesis was to develop a management system for a new generation of assembly factories, namely minifactories. This thesis describes the management system and its functions, and evaluates its current qualities and the technologies used in it. Ideas for future development are also taken under consideration. /Kir10