The Design of Product Families for Reconfigurable Assembly Systems: Student Research Experiences
- Conference
- Location
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New Orleans, Louisiana
- Publication Date
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June 26, 2016
- Start Date
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June 26, 2016
- End Date
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June 29, 2016
- ISBN
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978-0-692-68565-5
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Design in Engineering Education
- Page Count
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22
- DOI
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10.18260/p.26116
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/26116
- Download Count
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676
Paper Authors
April M. Bryan Western Washington University
Dr. April Bryan is an Assistant Professor at Western Washington University. Her areas of expertise are product design and development, design optimization, manufacturing systems, and concurrent engineering. She currently teaches courses in engineering drawing and graphics, manufacturing, engineering design, and mechanics.
Dr. Bryan received Ph.D. and MSc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2004 and 2008 respectively. She is also a 2000 alumna of Tuskegee University, where she obtained her B.Sc. degree in Aerospace Science Engineering.
Dr. Bryan gained industrial experience as a Design Engineer at John Deere where she worked from 2000 to 2002. She has also held academic positions at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
John Andrew Lund Western Washington University
Dr. Lund's research involves the development of novel control systems, sensing and measurement tools for unique environments. His previous and ongoing research efforts include the development of a high-resolution wireless instrumented mouthguard for the assessment of severity of head impacts, development of an ultra-long lifespan wireless sensor devices designed to form robust data networks in remote areas lacking infrastructure, and the development of of an electron-tunneling spectroscopy based microscope control system for molecular analysis.
Abstract
This paper describes the experiences of a team of undergraduate research students that were assigned the task of designing a product family for a reconfigurable manufacturing system, RMS. This problem of designing a product family for a RMS required a different type of thinking than that required for traditional product design. Not only did consideration have to be given to the product design specifications and constraints, but the constraints imposed by the RMS also had to be considered. This type of thinking is not traditionally taught in existing undergraduate design curricula.
In this research experience, students adapted the traditional product design process to design a product family of lamps, with consideration of the needs of the RMS. The paper highlights the challenges posed by the systems level of thinking, and the need to include consideration of the manufacturing system. The impact of the research experience on the students and the department are discussed. Recommendations are made for approaches to conducting similar research experiences and inclusion of a systems level thinking into traditional design courses.
Bryan, A. M., & Lund, J. A. (2016, June), The Design of Product Families for Reconfigurable Assembly Systems: Student Research Experiences Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26116
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