// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Setup Reduction
Setup Reduction is the process of minimizing the time and effort required to prepare a machine or production line for a new task or product. The goal is to make changeovers faster and more efficient.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Setup Reduction is a lean manufacturing principle aimed at decreasing the non-value-added time spent on preparing equipment for a new production run, often achieved through methodologies like SMED to enhance operational efficiency and flexibility.
BACKGROUND
Lean manufacturing is a management system built on three principles: produce only what is needed, when it is needed; correct abnormalities as soon as they occur; and empower workers to improve the process themselves.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Changeover Reduction
- Quick Changeover
- Machine Setup Optimization
USAGE NOTE
Setup reduction is crucial for enabling smaller batch sizes and improving production responsiveness.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Setup Reduction.
Develops a comprehensive suite of digital manufacturing software, including Tecnomatix for process simulation and Opcenter MES. These tools allow manufacturers to virtually plan, simulate, and optimize machine setup and changeover procedures before they occur on the shop floor, significantly reducing downtime.
A leading provider of gripping systems and clamping technology. Schunk manufactures specific hardware for setup reduction, such as the VERO-S quick-change pallet system, which allows for workpieces and fixtures to be swapped out and positioned with high precision in seconds.
Offers the Vuforia platform, an enterprise Augmented Reality (AR) solution. Companies use Vuforia to create step-by-step AR work instructions that overlay digital information onto physical equipment, guiding operators through complex setup and changeover tasks faster and with fewer errors.
Provides a no-code frontline operations platform that allows manufacturers to create their own applications. These apps can digitize checklists, provide guided work instructions for setups, and collect data on changeover times, enabling continuous improvement and standardization of the process.
Specializes in mechatronic solutions, including robotics and connection systems. Their robotic tool changing systems allow for the fully automated swapping of end-of-arm tooling, while their multi-coupling systems enable rapid connection of all fluid and electrical lines for molds and dies in a single movement.
Through its DELMIA brand, Dassault Systèmes provides virtual twin technology and advanced planning and scheduling (APS) software. The software can optimize production sequences to minimize the number of changeovers, and simulate the setup process in a 3D environment to refine procedures for maximum efficiency.
Designs and builds custom, automated manufacturing systems for various industries. Their solutions often incorporate technologies specifically for rapid changeover, such as robotic handling, flexible part feeding systems, and modular fixtures, to accommodate high-mix production environments.
A leading manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots). Cobots are used to assist human operators in setup tasks like loading fixtures, changing tools, or positioning components, thereby automating repetitive parts of the changeover process and reducing physical strain and time.