University of Twente Student Theses
A novel framework to aid in the design of automated systems at veal abattoirs : a case study
Schrijver, J.E. (2023) A novel framework to aid in the design of automated systems at veal abattoirs : a case study.
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| Abstract: | This thesis aims to show how a novel framework can assist to provide greater control on the enhancement of automation at veal abattoirs. A high turnover of labour and increasing difficulty to find skilled employees has led to the urgent necessity for veal abattoir Ekro to become less reliant on manual processing. However, the complex nature of the production chain in combination with limited in-house competencies regarding automation make it challenging for them to make effective decisions. In their current approach, virtually all automation-efforts are reactively outsourced to suppliers and the lack of automation knowledge makes it difficult to critically assess their system designs. To become more proactive in decision-making, a framework is proposed to structurally aid in the design of automated systems. Incorporating evidence from applications and theoretical approaches, the proposed framework consists of three abstract steps. The first step (understand) asks the user to analyse the manual process to get an initial assessment of the requirements for the automated system. The second step (simplify) then guides the redefinition of the process to reduce the system requirements and match it with the current state of technology. In the final step (automate) the user is probed to select hardware components to complete the design of the automated system. The framework has been demonstrated through a case study and evaluation with an automation supplier indicates that the gained insights allow for critical questions to be asked. User evaluations have additionally provided insights on distinct steps that could be improved in the future, but the author recommends to first examine and refine the comprehensiveness of the framework by applying it to several other use cases. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Clients: | Ekro, Apeldoorn, Netherlands |
| Faculty: | ET: Engineering Technology |
| Subject: | 52 mechanical engineering |
| Programme: | Mechanical Engineering MSc (60439) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/95088 |
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