The automation systems for the next generation of housing factories need to be flexible enough to answer to the product variety that the production facility want to be able to produce.
A common term when analyzing production facilities is to talk about the level of automation. In theory, the higher the level of automation is, the more parts per year can be produced. The flip side of high levels of automation is typically lower flexibility for product variety. The housing factory of the future needs to balance A) the cost of initial investment, B) level of flexibility required and C) a high level of automation.
We believe that the best way to achieve this is a thorough analysis of each value adding process in the manufacturing and grade the need of flexibility versus the need of high throughput. Human operators will have a strong role in all areas with a nigh need of flexibility.
