Computer-Aided Planning of Flexible Automated Assembly Processes

Technical and economic conditions require new planning methods and planning aids for the work-scheduling for assembly, which ensure high planning quality and productivity. The close intertwinement of design and work preparation under the slogan of "assembly-oriented design" is tantamount to the demand that the product and the process must be developed together. Process studies must create the basis. It is mainly software tools that result in Quality improvements in the essential problem areas of planning. Some of them are available in a sophisticated and efficient form. Finally, an essential improvement in productivity seems to be possible in future by automating individual tasks.