Bachelor Assignment

Short Summary on Analysing and Enhancing a Flexible Assembly Line through Simulation: A Case Study

This bachelor thesis investigates and optimises a flexible assembly line at the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform in Enschede, which checks and tests old batteries to use them for battery packs. Using Visual Components, a simulation model of the production line was created to analyse key performance indicators, like production time, travel distance, and utilisation rates. After evaluating the current layout, several modifications were tested. The most effective improvements involved rearranging machines on the monorail system and adding a robot to enhance product flow between cells. Although the accuracy was lowered due to simulation limitations, it is estimated that a four-minute improvement per cycle of eight battery packs can be reached. This study demonstrates the value of simulation tools in identifying cost-effective improvements in production layout and efficiency.