Automated Fastening in a Cellular Manufacturing Environment

Airframe manufacturers have radically changed their operational approach to improve the affordability of their products. The deployments and use of automated fastening equipment has changed as well. Many manufacturers have adopted a cellular manufacturing flow model as a method to reduce cost, inventories and work-in-process. Automated fastening equipment can be integrated into a cellular manufacturing environment as free-standing service cells or dedicated to a specific cell. The operational techniques and the machine capability requirements differ from the traditional factory operation and layout.