Fully autonomous construction and mining machines are not science fiction anymore. For special applications, these types of machinery are well known for several years. The construction and mining industries are ripe for innovative product and service offers, including automated and fully autonomous machines at a larger scale. Nevertheless, commercially available autonomous machines for the main markets are still rare. Driven by the advancements in sensor technology, increased connectivity, and on-board computational capabilities, automation of machine functions and subsystems led to the development of advanced operator-assistant functions in certain fields like material handling, predictive maintenance, and operator guidance. Semi-automated machines, supporting the machine operator during normal operation, are well accepted by users and customers and show beneficial effects on the productivity of the machine and the overall work process. The purpose of this thesis is to generate a deeper understanding of the specific requirements needed to support the design decisions during the development of fully autonomous machines. Complementary, deeper insights into the efficient collaboration between autonomous machines and human collaborators are explored. The thesis summarizes the research performed by the author, as an industrial Ph.D. student and Specialist for Intelligent Machines at Volvo Construction Equipment. Performed research comprises the investigation of the state-of-the-art approaches in the automation of machines and dedicated functions with special emphasis on the connectivity of the different systems and components up to the site management solution. Further, the work includes the exploration of data-mining through early experience prototyping as a step towards data-driven design of a product-service system. In additional the research covered the support of on-site collaboration between autonomous machines and humans by investigating team behavior and trust development among humans. Conclusions from this work are that autonomous machine design requires new sets of requirements to support early decision making during the development process. Dedicated data collection based on different methods such as, data-mining, needfinding, and observations, supported by multiple physical and virtual artifacts can generate useful data to support the decision-making. Trust between humans and machines, and the preconditions of developing this trust need to be captured as specific requirements. To support further development in the area of autonomous machine design, an interaction model had been proposed to map possible interactions of an autonomous machine with objects and collaborators within the same work area. To capture the different nature of the possible interactions, several levels had been introduced to enable the distinction between cognitive, and physical, as well as intended, and unintended interactions.

Olofsfors AB manufactures tracks for forest machines, known as ECO tracks. The purpose of the project is to find a suitable product that can measure and report operating time and GPS coordinates of the tracks, and to develop a mount for the product. In the beginning of the project, the market for GPS trackers and associated electronics is mapped out. From the market research, it is found that many different products are available. The most promising GPS trackers are evaluated in detail, and one product (MaxiTracker) is chosen for use with the ECO tracks. Several possible concepts for a mechanical mount to attach the GPS device on the ECO tracks are then designed using computer-aided-design (CAD). The mounts are evaluated together with the supervisor at Olofsfors AB to identify the concept that best fits the company's criteria regarding size and capability. The final mount consists of two parts, one that is welded directly on the track, and another that fixes the GPS tracker to the welded part. The project fulfills the overall objectives and delivers a concept for a solution that meets the specifications. Details such as functionality should be evaluated and tested before the mount is cleared for mass production. / Projektet utförs hos Olofsfors AB som tillverkar drivband till skogsmaskiner, kända som ECO tracks. Syftet med projektet är att ta fram en produkt som ska kunna mäta drifttid och GPS koordinater på banden, samt en infästning till produkten. Projektet inleds med en marknadsundersökning där marknaden för elektronik av GPS-trackers kartläggs. Det konstateras att marknaden är väldigt bred med många produkter. Efter kartläggningen så utvärderas alternativ på GPS-trackers och en produkt (MaxiTracker) väljs att användas i fortsättningen. Därefter konstrueras alternativ på infästningar för denna GPS-tracker till drivbanden med hjälp av ett datorstött konstruktionsprogram. Flera konceptförslag på infästningar görs. Infästningarna utvärderas med företagets handledare för att hitta ett koncept som passar företagets kriterier gällande storlek och duglighet. Den slutgiltiga infästningen bygger på två delar, en bottenplatta och ett hölje. Bottenplattan svetsas i drivbandet och höljet fixerar GPS-trackern mot bottenplattan. Projektet når de övergripande målen och levererar ett koncept till en produkt som uppfyller kravspecifikation. Detaljer som GPS-trackerns funktionalitet i ett ståldrivband bör vidare utvärderas och beprövas innan infästningen börjar massproduceras.

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SOMAS Instrument AB is a valve manufacturer in Säffle that mainly produces butterfly valves, ball segment valves and ball valves. After the manufacturing process and before the valve is to be delivered to the customer, tests are performed to verify that the valve is acceptable. The valve testing machine then gathers, and outputs data based on these tests onto data files. As SOMAS currently makes no usage of this data in their production, this thesis has analyzed and evaluated which conclusions could be made with regards to the valves’ construction and production processes, and what may need to be improved. To visualize the data more easily, it was first imported into Excel, where it was used as a basis for various diagrams. The results were evaluated and discussed with help from the staff at SOMAS to see what possible conclusions could be made and what reasonable explanations there were for the results. The most obvious conclusion that could be made was related to the XML files themselves. To make further analysis of the XML files possible in future quality related work, their layout would need to be standardized and improved in various ways. The ball segment valves were overrepresented within their seat tests, meaning that their sealing construction may need to be reviewed. Furthermore, there were some apparent problems with the valves testing machines themselves, as they sometimes were unable to press heavier balls in larger ball valves all the way up to the seat, leading to unreliable data. There is also no system in place to counteract air being left in the valves, possibly leading to many failed tests which show to fault in the valves themselves. / SOMAS Ventiler AB är en ventiltillverkare i Säffle som främst tillverkar vridspjällventiler, kalottventiler och kulventiler. Efter tillverkning och inför att ventilerna ska skickas ut till kund genomförs så kallade provtryckningar för att verifiera att ventilen är godtagbar enligt standard. Provtryckningsmaskinerna som genomför dessa skriver efter testet ut vissa data i lätthanterliga datafiler. Då SOMAS i nuläget inte har någon återkoppling på denna data har detta arbete försökt analysera och utvärdera vilka slutsatser som kan dras kopplat till ventilernas konstruktion och produktion, och vad SOMAS kan behöva förbättra. För att lättare kunna visualisera data lästes den först in i Excel, där den senare användes som underlag till diverse diagram. Resultatet utvärderades och diskuterades med personal på SOMAS för att se vilka eventuella slutsatser och rimliga förklaringar som fanns till resultatet. Den tydligaste slutsats som kunde dras var relaterad till XML-filerna och deras upplägg. För att SOMAS vidare ska kunna analysera XML-filerna i sitt kvalitets arbete kommer deras upplägg behöva standardiseras och på olika sätt förbättras. Dessutom kan det konstateras att kalottventilerna av flera olika anledningar är väldigt överrepresenterade när det gäller underkända sätestester, vilket betyder att säteskonstruktionen kan behöva ses över. Vidare kan problem ses hos provtryckarmaskinerna i sig, då de kan ha svårt att trycka kulventilernas kula mot sätet och det inte finns något system för att motverka luft som ligger kvar i ventilerna innan testerna.

The purpose of the study is to investigate how the internal communication and information flow of the packaging process can be streamlined. In the study three questions were studied:  [1]   What problems within the internal communication and information flow has the packaging process?   [2]  How do communication and information deficiencies affect the efficiency of the packaging process?   [3]  How can a more efficient internal communication and information flow benefit their packaging process in the future? This study has taken place at a company called Arla Foods which is in Jönköping, Sweden. The company is a fresh produce dairy where over 100 different items are manufactured. As many articles are manufactured, it puts pressure on the company to streamline production and maintain their delivery times. The case study has been carried out in a department called the packaging process, this department is part of their production and is the final step before the product goes on to the warehouse. The department has been identified as a limitation for the entire system, therefore the survey has been conducted to identify how its internal communication and information flow caused the limitation. With a current situation analysis and a theoretical framework, the author has identified the difficulties in the flow of communication and information. The proposed recommendations include proposed measures that can streamline the internal communication and information flow in the packaging process. The final step has been a discussion and conclusion that has been written to discuss the study's validity and reliability, can summarize the improvement proposals and future studies that can be carried out for continuous improvement.

Texor AB produces steel components for life-science and food industry. One of their components is a pressure ring that is a part of a chromatography column, a pressure vessel that is used for the development of medicines. The purpose for this work was to use LEAN production to perform an analysis of todays production in terms of efficiency and cost, and to identify possible improvements. Three different methods were analyzed: ordering of pressure ring components, optimization of warehousing, and change of processing lists. The results show that implementation of the three methods will lead to an increase in production cost. One of the reasons is that, due to the high quality of Texors products, especially the tolerances, ordering of components from other companies will be expensive. / Företaget Texor AB producerar stålkomponenter för användning inom life-science och livsmedelsindustrin. En av dessa komponenter är en tryckring som ingår i en kromatografikolonn, ett sorts tryckkärl som används för framtagning av medicin. Syftet med arbetet var att genom LEAN produktion göra en analys gällande ekonomi och effektivitet av dagens produktion, samt om möjligt ta fram förbättringsförslag. Arbetet hade som mål att finna möjliga produktionshöjande moment för tillverkningen av tryckringarna och dess komponenter under användning av tre olika metoder: beställning av komponenter, optimering av lagerhållning, samt ändring i bearbetningslistor. Resultatet visar att det uppstår höga kostnader vid implementering av dessa tre metoder. En av orsakerna är den höga kvalitén, speciellt toleranser, som Texor har på sina produkter, vilket gör att extern beställning av komponenter blir dyrt. Resultaten visar därmed att Texor redan idag har en kostnadseffektiv produktion av tryckringar.

Introduction Companies that fail to integrate important suppliers are risking omitting meaningful collaborations and consequently lose market advantages. However, developing a relationship towards an integrated collaboration includes complex components in a buyer-supplier relationship that creates a higher interdependence between firms. Supplier integration has been identified to improve the performance of efficiency and effectiveness of both material and information flows between manufacturer and suppliers. One measurement of operational performance is Order to delivery (OTD) which is of utmost importance when managing the supply chain. The OTD process is a complex metric system but nonetheless one of the most important processes to manage from a logistic perspective. It is therefore important to investigate from different perspectives how supplier integration can be improved and raise the supplier's ability to deliver according to OTD. Thus, this project's aim was to examine the supplier-buyer relationship in a manufacturing environment and the related development work that can improve a company's collaboration and OTD performance. ➢ RQ1: What are the critical factors in supplier integration to improve the supplier-buyer relationship? ➢ RQ2: How can companies work to improve their suppliers' ability to reach an acceptable level of order-to-delivery (OTD)? Methodology The area of supplier development was investigated through a literature review to provide previous research and context. A multiple case study was performed at Alpha within three supplier integration cases to gain a meaningful real-world perspective of the area. Semi-structured interviews and qualitative surveys have been used in themes to collect data from Alpha and its external partners. The analysis was later performed by finding patterns and similarities between the empirical findings and the literature review. Frame of Reference To gain a general understanding of supplier development were a literature review was performed, which include relationships, supplier integration, performance, lean, and power balances. Empirical findings The empirical findings provided an overview of three perspectives within supplier integration which include the buyer, integrated suppliers, and a future supplier. Also, it provides an internal insight within Alpha on how processes can differ internally when handling OTD. Analysis and discussion The literature review and the empirical findings were compared, analyzed, and discussed to find potential critical factors of supplier integration. Additionally, the analysis and discussion contribute to the supplier development word regarding OTD. Conclusions Critical factors within supplier integration to improve supplier-buyer relationships include lean culture, dedication, person-specific, and handovers. For companies to evaluate OTD is measurement vital. Additionally, onboarding activities, assistance, prioritization, and forecasts are important to help suppliers handle fluctuations.

This degree project has been carried out at Jönköping University of Technology where the study has been executed in collaboration with the electronics manufacturing company Kitron AB. The purpose of this study was to reduce waste associated with material handling and to develop action proposals with focus on material supply and production layout.  A case study was executed at the company where the study was defined to one of the production departments. Different methods were being used to gather data which has been analyzed based on the theoretical framework. Time studies has been carried out to investigate how much time the operator spend on activities related to material handling. The study showed that the total material handling time in that department added up to 44,8% of an employment. Furthermore, analyzes of the current material handling system, the items in the department and the current layout design have been made. Conclusion from this case study is that a new material supply system and a new layout to reduce the material handling waste is required. Using theory, two solution proposals has been presented showing how a material supply system can increase efficiency and decrease the waste.  Finally, one of the two solution proposals is recommended for the company based on an evaluation from five criteria. The recommended solution results in a reduced working space by 32,2% and reduced time waste on material handling. A discussion regarding further research is presented at the end.

At the beginning of this project the goal was to create a concept for a brand new oil return system for the drying section of BillerudKorsnäs Karlsborgs paper machine. The goal was changed during the project in consultation with BillerudKorsnäs. The cause of that was a too uncertain system specification. The new goal was to create a correct and detailed system specification for the circulating oil system at the paper machine drying section.  During the project all lubrication points where detected. The paper machine have a total total of 423 lubrication points in the dryer section, 400 bearing houses and 23 gearboxes. The current oil system is divided into two parts; one for the pre dryer and one for the post dryer. The current total flow of the system is approximately 884 l/min. Since the pilot study and need analysis showed that the bearings are not working during sufficient lubrication, a new required flow for each lubrication point was calculated. This showed that a new oil system would have a total flow of 1260 l/min to provide the bearings and gearboxes with the right amount of oil. The new oil system should also have a different division; one oil system for the bearings and one oil system for the gearboxes. All the results was summarized in a new system specification for a request of a new oil system for the paper machine.  The current oil system also have large problems with water entering the system. This led to a second goal; suggest solutions to minimize water in the oil system. An identification of the possible position where water enters the oil system was done. This showed that water enters the system through the labyrinth seals in the bearing houses. The solution to minimize water in the oil system is following: Continue to test the new air intakes placed directly to the bearing houses together with installation of flash protection covers on the cylinder shaft. If this works the new air intakes will provide colder and dryer air to the system. This will reduce the air flow of hot humid air through the labyrinth seals.

In this thesis, operating modes and different concepts have been developed for a cooling system of a hybrid driveline. The project was carried out for BAE system Hägglunds in Örnsködsvik. Since 2001, the company produces a tracked vehicle called BvS10 that is primarily used for military purposes. In this project a cooling system for a new, electrified concept vehicle based on the BvS10 vehicle, called BvS15, was created. Electrified and hybrid vehicles became a necessity for BAE Systems Hägglunds due to major developments in electric components, and to be able to compete with other companies in this area.  A component list was created, all components and its specifics were gathered in an Excel document. From this point in the project different concepts and operating modes could be tested on the cooling system. Three different concepts were created with the same operating modes, the difference between the concepts was the placement of the components in the schematic layouts. The concepts each have their pros and cons, mainly regarding size of cooler and manufacturing difficulties, but also dimensioning of components in the circuits.  The result of this project is three concepts of a cooling system for a hybrid driveline. All concepts are considered feasible, what is used in the end depends on what BAE Systems Hägglunds prioritizes. The results can be used in studies regarding future tracked vehicles. / I detta examensarbete har koncept och driftfall för en ny hybrid-drivlinas kylsystem tagits fram. Projektet utfördes för BAE Systems Hägglunds i Örnsköldsvik. Sedan 2001 har BvS10 varit en bandvagn som BAE System Hägglunds tillverkar för bland annat militärt bruk. I detta projekt har ett kylsystem för en elektrifierad konceptvagn Bvs15, som är baserad på BvS10 utvecklats. Elektrifierad och hybrid-drivlinor blev en nödvändighet för BAE Systems Hägglunds på grund avstora utvecklingarna inom elektrifierade komponenter, och eftersom man vill kunna konkurrera med andra företag inom området. En komponentlista skapades där alla komponenter och deras specifikationer samlades i ett Excel dokument. Från detta läge i projektet kunde test av driftfall och olika koncept på kylsystemet utföras. Det skapades tre olika koncept med samma driftfall, men med olika placeringar av komponenter i de schematiska layouterna. Koncepten har alla sina för- och nackdelar, främst i storleken av kylarpacket och tillverkningskomplexitet, men också i dimensioneringen av komponenter i kretsarna. Resultatet av detta projekt är tre koncept för ett kylsystem till en hybriddrivlina. Samtliga koncept anses genomförbara och vad som används i slutändan beror på vad BAE Systems Hägglunds prioriterar. Resultaten kan användas i en förstudie om framtida bandvagnar.