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The use of automation can increase manufacturing companies’ competitiveness. However, many companies are not well acquainted with automation technology and specifically the process of acquiring it. The overall aim of this paper is therefore to support inexperienced automation users in the acquisition process by mapping out the process from a system supplier’s perspective. Interviews with five system suppliers have been conducted with the objective to map out the automation equipment acquisition process. During the analysis the described processes were compared to each other, evaluated and compared to literature. As a result of the study, a generic acquisition process for automated equipment is suggested. Several problem areas and critical steps in the process are identified and improvements in the current way of working are suggested. It is concluded that one of the major factors that increases the chances of a successful outcome is the customer’s ability to develop the specification of requirements. A correct and detailed specification also facilitates the acquisition process for both the system suppliers and the customers. Further, a potential problem in the current way of working is the involvement of several functions at the system supplier and incorrect hand over during the late phases of the process.

Automation technology can increase company’s competiveness if it is used correctly. One step on the way to achieve this is to acquire proper automation technology. This paper describes how nine manufacturing companies in Sweden work when they acquire advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) with automation investments in focus. These nine companies are located all over Sweden and they are considered to be amongst the most experienced in Sweden, running automation investments. The respectively companies way of working is described and analyzed. Most of the companies had a quite extensive model for their acquisition process. Main reason for investing in automation, key factors for successful implementation of automation equipment and suggested improvements to the described acquisition models, are discussed in the paper.

Investments in production equipment are made to generate desired production benefit. This work examines how benefit generally is defined and to what extent the benefit is well defined when equipment investments are made. The study revealed that benefit from investments often is unclearly or inconsistently defined, with a narrow system view and often has a weak correlation with benefit for a production system with broader boundaries. This could hamper the possibility to capitalize on industrial trends that indicate a shift in focus, from products, to the benefit utilization of the products can deliver.

Automation technology can, if used correctly, increase an organization’s competitiveness. An automation strategy can provide support in finding the right type and level of automation as well as provide structure and routines for how to implement and work with automation. This paper addresses how an automation strategy can be developed, what it should include and how it can be used. A model for an automation strategy is suggested based on, and exemplified with, the findings from a case study. The importance of aligning the automation strategy with the overall business mission and vision as well as other strategies is stressed.

Trender mot mer automatiserad produktion och allt snabbare förändringstakt av produktionssystem ställer krav på snabba, effektiva och verksamhetsanpassade utvecklingsprocesser av automationslösningar. Denna handbok beskriver centrala delar i en automationsstrategi, som stöd för utveckling av automationslösningar till produktionssystem. Den är relevant för alla typer av tillverkande verksamheter och leverantörer som vill effektivisera anskaffandet och införandet av ny automationsteknik. Handboken beskriver en automationsstrategi uppdelad i fyra huvudområden: Del 1 – Ekonomi Del 2 – Organisation Del 3 – Process Del 4 – Teknik Stort fokus ligger på att engagera olika kompetenser och aktörer, liksom att betrakta automationsstrategin som en del av en helhet tillsammans med övriga delar i och utanför verksamheten. Automationsstrategin lyfter vilka faktorer inom de olika huvudområdena som påverkar vid utveckling av automationslösningar. Den gör det möjligt att analysera vilken affärsmodell som passar verksamhetens förutsättningar bäst och vilka organisatoriska strukturer som är viktiga för verksamhetens automationskompetens. Den innehåller också en stegmall för effektiv anskaffning av automationsutrustning och tre viktiga kategorier av teknik som kan stötta utvecklingsprocessen. Handboken har tagits fram i projektet lean automationsutveckling, eller LEAD, som har finansierats av Vinnovas program FFI Hållbar produktion under 2013-2015. Grundidén var att underlätta både planering, utveckling och anskaffning av automationslösningar genom att förse de utvecklingsprocesser som idag är etablerade med verktyg från lean produktutveckling. På så vis säkerställs att verksamheter kan dra nytta av ny automationsteknik med så effektivt utnyttjande av resurser, hög hållbarhet och hög lönsamhet som möjligt.

Globalization, demographic changes, and environmental challenges put a strong pressure on European manufacturing industry and increase demands on resource efficiency, sustainable manufacturing, innovative products and individualized products. Today, Swedish manufacturing in mature traditional sectors is increasingly migrating to low-wage countries such as China and India. There is a strong need for the manufacturing industry in Sweden to enhance the ability to develop and manufacture products competitively. One way could be through an increased level of automation and increased use of industrial robotics. However, robot automation investments are in many cases, regarded as too expensive and too technically advanced, especially within small and medium sized enterprises. The objective of this paper is to investigate requirements as well as possible solutions for efficient use of robot automation in the Swedish manufacturing industry. Results from two research projects are presented. In the first project, requirements on automation solutions within small and medium sized manufacturing companies have been analyzed. The second project has investigated and developed possible solutions for increased reconfigurability of robotic systems enabling production of different products and simple configuration to handle future product variants without large additional investments.