INGENIEUR
Figure 13: Example of a Linear Production Line (Source: Forta Pro)
discrete number of individual stages, similar to
an automotive production line. The PVM may be
manufactured on fixed rails or trolleys and moved
between stations. Each station has a number of
production teams or trades associated with it
and a prescribed zone on the factory floor (Figure
13). The key difference between this form of
production and static production is that the PVM
units are moved between dedicated stations,
rather than the production teams having to move
from one PVM to another PVM.
Besides that, there are also modern semi-
automated factories for modular production that
work based on the same principles of conventional
linear production, similar to non-automated lines,
but with more dedicated stages (Figure 14).
Typically, automated facilities have separate lines
for the manufacture of walls, ceilings, and floor
panels, as light steel-based facilities are often
incorporated on line roll-forming machines for
each type of panel.
Automated lines commonly include facilities
for creating window and door openings (often
by the incorporation of sub-assemblies), and
installing insulation and in-built services, such
as cabling and telecoms. However, they do not
usually include automated systems for bathroom
fit-out and installation of fitted furnishings, as
bathroom pods are often prefabricated off-line or
brought in. Furnishings are generally more difficult
to automate and become follow-on operations.
Therefore, semi-automated production lines
tend to comprise a highly automated series of
operations requiring specialised equipment,
followed by a series of relatively conventional
manual operations.
Figure 14: Example of a Semi-automated Production Line
Source: Alter (2016)
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VOL
VOL 79
55 JULY-SEPTEMBER
JUNE 2013 2019