Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Background: Automation of processes is taking place more and more in the manufacturing industry today. Automation today is used by companies to be more productive/efficient to be competitive. Automating a process not only increases the chance of reduced waste, but it also increases productivity, precise measurements, shorter lead times and increased cost efficiency, and that the company maintains its place in the market. Therefore, it is important for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to be able to automate the processes, especially since SMEs make up the largest part of the market.
Quality control is one of the most important parts of the complex production process. This is because the quality controls ensure the quality of the products for both the company and the customers. If the quality controls are automated, this can lead to an increase in the quality of the products and to them becoming more efficient.
The purpose: The basis of this thesis is to be able to increase the productivity/efficiency and safety of the quality controls, i.e. more specific and accurate measurements that increase the credibility of the quality of the products, through automation/digitalization. This is to reduce human assistance, increase the efficiency of the process and be more cost-effective as the workers can focus on other tasks than the quality controls.
The research questions in this study are:
- What is needed to redesign and streamline the quality control processes?
- What are the important technologies and process changes needed to automate the quality controls?
- How can the quality controls be made more efficient with the help of automation?
Method: This study is based on a qualitative & quantitative research approach which is based on a case study at the company Senior Material. Through interviews, observations, participant observations and notes, the empirical data was collected. All data was analyzed to help the study find relevant solutions. Theories were collected through various search tools through a literature study. The literature that was relevant and could advance the study was used, this through data analysis of the literature and elimination of irrelevant literature. An analysis of the market also took place to find relevant solutions.
Conclusions: The study's conclusion presents which steps are important to take to be able to redesign and streamline the quality control processes in the companies. These steps are to first understand the problem, understand what requirements the company has, be very involved in the case, set limitations and goals, find solutions that meet all requirements and finally analyze whether the solutions meet all requirements and are effective. A very important part of automation is to understand why it should be done, this especially for SMEs as they do not have as many resources as large companies. Another important point to consider is not to have too high a level of automation as this can have several consequences.
One of the most important technologies to consider in automation is the digitization of data. This is to be able to detect deviations or problems early and be able to remedy them. Digitization is a large part of the solution, therefore it is important for companies to first check whether the problem lies in a lack of automation or digitization
The solutions found were to automate the controls for the particle, humidity and temperature measurement and digitize the rest of the controls. With the help of these solutions, Senior saves more than 123 working days of unnecessary work while streamlining quality controls.
2024. , p. 68