Flexible manufacturing is something that most companies is aiming to accomplish due to the increased demand for variety and a competitive global market. This thesis report includes an introduction to the automation concept and the development towards flexible automation. A general flexible assembly cell is presented and its content and requirements are discussed. The work has been done with focus on an assembly process with dedicated fixtures at VCE (Volvo Construction Equipment). Based on the literature review and the general example, a list of actions to take while planning and implementing a process is developed. The actions roughly include: mapping of the process, defining goals, investigation of automation level, holistic view while planning, definition of the need for flexibility, investment plan, designing and comparing concepts, investigation of possible issues and implementation in small scale. The current manual process at VCE is presented and analysed. Three concepts are designed with product flexibility as an alternative to processes in which traditional dedicated fixtures are used. The designed concepts are a fully automated concept, a hybrid concept with separated workspace and a human-robot collaboration. Finally, the concepts are analysed and compared based on following parameters: productivity, product cost, investment, flexibility, space requirement and setup time. One final comparing summary of the concepts is done. The analysis shows that a fully automated concept is to prefer in this case. However, a human-robot collaboration could be appropriate to use if the process is expected to improve with the human workforce. Examples of when it could be reasonable to use human-robot collaboration despite this are: if the task provides better quality when conducted by human or if the task is complex to automate.

Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a teoria e a prática da Automação Residencial (AR) e também apresenta uma proposta de uma metodologia para auxílio da engenharia em AR intitulada MAEAR - Metodologia para Auxílio da Engenharia em Automação Residencial. Este trabalho apresenta também uma análise entre as principais teorias de controle desenvolvidas para a automação industrial, e a correlação das mesmas sobre sistemas de automação predial e residencial, assim como uma comparação dos níveis de automação industrial e residencial existentes. Os testes de validação da metodologia MAEAR proposta também são apresentadas neste trabalho. / This work presents a bibliographical revision about the theory and the practice of Home Automation (HA) and also presents a proposal of a methodology for aid of engineering in HA entitled MAEAR - Methodology for Aid of Engineering in Home Automation. This work also presents an analysis between the main theories of controls developed to industrial automation, and the correlation it with systems of building automation and home automation, as well as a comparative of levels of industrial automation and home automation. The tests of validation of methodology MAEAR proposal also are presented in this work.

Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a teoria e a prática da Automação Residencial (AR) e também apresenta uma proposta de uma metodologia para auxílio da engenharia em AR intitulada MAEAR - Metodologia para Auxílio da Engenharia em Automação Residencial. Este trabalho apresenta também uma análise entre as principais teorias de controle desenvolvidas para a automação industrial, e a correlação das mesmas sobre sistemas de automação predial e residencial, assim como uma comparação dos níveis de automação industrial e residencial existentes. Os testes de validação da metodologia MAEAR proposta também são apresentadas neste trabalho. / This work presents a bibliographical revision about the theory and the practice of Home Automation (HA) and also presents a proposal of a methodology for aid of engineering in HA entitled MAEAR - Methodology for Aid of Engineering in Home Automation. This work also presents an analysis between the main theories of controls developed to industrial automation, and the correlation it with systems of building automation and home automation, as well as a comparative of levels of industrial automation and home automation. The tests of validation of methodology MAEAR proposal also are presented in this work.