Increasing flexibility and productivity in Industry 4.0 production networks with autonomous mobile robots and smart intralogistics

• DOI: 10.1007/s10479-020-03526-7
• Publication Date: 2020-02-07T11:04:05Z
• Authors: Giuseppe Fragapane; Dmitry Ivanov; Mirco Peron; Fabio Sgarbossa; Jan Ola Strandhagen
• Keywords: 0209 industrial biotechnology; 9. Industry and infrastructure; 02 engineering and technology

Abstract Manufacturing flexibility improves a firm’s ability to react in timely manner customer demands and increase production system productivity without incurring excessive costs expending an amount of resources. The emerging technologies the Industry 4.0 era, such as cloud operations or industrial Artificial Intelligence, allow for new flexible systems. We develop test analytical model throughput analysis use it reveal conditions under which autonomous mobile robots (AMR)-based networks are more advantageous compared traditional lines. Using circular loop among workstations inter-operational buffers, our allows congestion be avoided by utilizing multiple crosses analyzing both flow load/unload phases. sensitivity shows that cost AMRs number shifts key factors improving productivity. outcomes this research promote deeper understanding role 4.0-based can utilized planners determine optimal configurations associated performance impact AMR-based traditionally balanced This study supports decision-makers how AMR systems process industry improve manufacturing terms productivity, flexibility, costs.