Robotics application in flexible manufacturing systems: prospects and challenges in a developing country

This paper presents some insights into automation of assembly process of a consumer product. The methods developed towards achieving this objective include: surveying the available literature on automated assembly systems; defining the advantages and limitations of the various systems; studying different classifications and programming methods of Industrial Robots with a view to examining their effectiveness in a viable and efficient automated assembly system. The process to be automated is insertion of camera lens into its housing to form a viewfinder assembly. This paper reviews the standard methods currently in use for this assembly work and surveys their applications in other areas of the assembly processes. Attention is given to the need to justify capital investments prior to introducing automation into the production processes. In this context, the sociological impact of robots with respect to job enrichment and displacement, quality of life, and economic emancipation were discussed.