Quality-driven Sequence Planning and Line Configuration Selection for Compliant Structure Assemblies

Assembly sequence planning is an integral part of a new product and process development. However, currently there are very few available approaches to evaluate the impact of assembly sequences on product quality. This paper develops a methodology for Quality-driven Sequence Planning (Q/SP) with consideration to product dimensional quality based on the following three steps: (1) Sequence generation for predetermined line configurations using /(-piece mixed-graph representation of assembly; (2) Dimensional quality model of variation propagation for assembly processes with compliant parts; and (3) Evaluation of sequences based on the multivariate process capability index. The methodology is illustrated using an industrial case study.