Design and development of semi-automatic machine for productivity increasing in a shrink tube heating process

Abstract

This project aimed to reduce waste and increase productivity in shrink tube heating process. An analysis of wiring harness process points out that a shrink tube heating process has the highest cycle time and do not have any work standards. Moreover, operators in this process always have fatigue problems because of a repetition of activities in the workflow. An analysis of causes of problems and a finding out solutions shows that the process can be developed by designing a shrink tube heating machine. The shrink tube heating machine is designed by using a principle of jig and fixture design. A Rapid Upper Limp Assessment technique (RULA) is used to assess the operator’s fatigue. The results show that a shrink tube heating machine can help to reduce the process cycle time from 23.49 minutes to 19.48 minutes or a decrease of 17.07%, that leads to an increase of productivity of 23.5%. It can also help to reduce a RULA level from 4 to 1, that means the shrink tube heating machine can help to reduce operator’s fatigue.