Högskolan i Skövde

Volvo GTO is one of the strongest brands in the truck industry, with a long and proud history of world-leading innovations. The factory in Skövde produces diesel engines of various sizes to Volvo GTO. The project has been carried out on the processing part of grovdel crankshaft. Where the objective was to construct a simulation model that reflects flows 0, 1 and 2 on the crankshaft grovdel order to produce the best driving style for the size of the batches and sequences, focusing on PIA, between the stock and conversion-up times. A theoretical study intervention gave knowledge to the methodology to ensure that the data is collected and processed correctly. The data were collected in an Excel document, which was integrated with the simulation model for an overview and adjustments would be possible.

The simulation program, Siemens Plant Simulation 12 used in the construction of the complex model of the three flows, which where verified and validated against the real flows. Optimization on the simulation model was made with a high and a low demand for crankshafts. Several objects were taken into consideration as: minimal waiting processing Findel, minimal setup time and minimal total-PIA from a truly viable perspective. The optimization showed a possible production planning in order to best be able to run such large batches as possible with reduced readjustment time and for delays of production in processing rawflows to not occur in the refined flow. For maximum capacity in the company there are two different optimal solutions one solution focused on reducing setup time and the second solution to minimize the number of additional production hours per week.

Discrete simulation of production flows are being used to support production planning and simulation model is created for the continued use of the Volvo GTO, either in simulation group or future researches and theses in collaboration with the University of Skövde. The project objectives were achieved with good results and resulted as a standing basis for future planning of batches and sequences of processing crankshaft Volvo GTO.