K. Tierney – författare

Information techniques have initiated a structural change of the manufacturing industry. Productivity, flexibility, quality, and reliability will attain a level which cannot be realized on the basis of conventional production structures. The differentiated technological requirements to products lead to an increased product variation and a quick product substitution. These alterations of the market situation demand automation of the highest flexibility and productivity. This can be reached by computer integrated, automated and flexible manufacturing, whereby information techniques take over a key function. In production technology it was comprehended at a very early stage that computers are important components. Stations of these developments were the NC technique, CNC controls up to the development of FMS with robots. In this context it can be stated that robots play an important role as the most flexible automation components.

From its inception in 1983, ESPRIT (the European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology) has aimed at improving the competitiveness of European industry and providing it with the technology needed for the 1990s. Esprit Project 623, on which most of the work presented in this book is based, was one of the key projects in the ESPRIT area, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). From its beginnings in 1985, it brought together a team of researchers from industry, research institutes and universities to explore and develop a critical stream of advanced manufacturing technology that would be timely and mature for industrial exploitation in a five year time frame. The synergy of cross border collaboration between technology users and vendors has led to results ranging from new and improved products to training courses given at universities. The subject of Esprit Project 623 was the integration of robots into manufacturing environments. Robots are a vital element in flexible automation and can contribute substantially to manufacturing efficiency. The project had two main themes, off-line programming and robot system planning. Off-line programming enlarges the application area of robots and opens up new possibilities in domains such as laser cutting, and other hazardous operations. Reported benefits obtained from off-line program­ ming include: - significant cost reductions because re-programming eliminates robot down-time; - faster production cycles, in some cases time-savings of up to 85% are reported; - the optimal engineering of products with improved quality.