Intelligent assembly system and method of use

摘要

A manufacturing system and method for manufacturing a product include storing product-related information with the product. The product-related information may be stored on one or more tags secured to a portion of the product and may be used to facilitate or control an aspect of manufacturing. During manufacturing, product-related information may be updated, for example, to reflect completion of a manufacturing operation.

主权项

1. A system for utilizing product-related information included on one or more tags of a product being assembled to perform one or more manufacturing operations, the system comprising:
a tag reader adapted to read the product-related information from the one or more tags; a first primary tag; a second primary tag that is physically separate from the first primary tag; a first processor adapted to:
determine a first manufacturing operation to be performed based on the product-related information;identify at least one of a first component or process to be applied during the first manufacturing operation; andverify that at least one of a first available component or available process is the identified first component or process; a second processor adapted to:
determine a second manufacturing operation to be performed based on the product-related information;identify at least one of a second component or process to be applied during the second manufacturing operation; andverify that at least one of a second available component or available process is the identified second component or process; a first assembly station adapted to apply the at least one of the first available component or available process to the product during the first manufacturing operation; a second assembly station adapted to apply the at least one of the second available component or available process to the product during the second manufacturing operation; one or more tag writers collectively adapted to update the product-related information on the first primary tag of the product to indicate completion of the first manufacturing operation, to consolidate the product-related information on one or more of the tags onto the first primary tag, to update the product-related information on the second primary tag of the product to indicate completion of the second manufacturing operation, and to consolidate the product-related information on the first primary tag and at least one other tag onto the second primary tag.