Smart Factory Lab enhances production efficiency

For half a century, spaghetti diagrams have been utilised to chart the movement of operators on the factory floor. This common method enhances not only efficiency but also helps ensure sound ergonomic practices. Avoiding wasteful, unnecessary and cumbersome movement is key in achieving lean production processes.

Nowadays, real-time location systems are taken for granted, accurately pinpointing our precise whereabouts on and off roads. Similar benefits can be obtained in tracking forklifts in the production area. However, common geo-spatial GPS systems are more or less useless behind thick walls.

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At Scania’s production units in Södertälje alone, it is estimated that there are more than 2,000 lifting devices, such as cranes and hoists. Each of these must be regularly inspected and serviced to ensure safety, sound ergonomics and compliance with legislation.

Scania has quality assurance checks in place at every stage in production. The drawback is that rectifying mistakes is costly. By making use of Computer Vision, Scania is now piloting the technology at its production units in the Netherlands.

Assembling rear axles can be tricky. The designated operator must quickly determine which screw is to be tightened in which hole. When presented with this dilemma, Scania’s Smart Factory Lab found an innovative solution.