Measurement Improvement and Optimization Using Scanning Technology  at SAAB AB, Linköping

Abstract: This master thesis is a development project that is carried out for process improvement and automation for the measurement equipment at “SAAB AB”, Linköping focusing on several sections including sheet metal, welding and pipe bending sections. Those are the core sections of the manufacturing of the latest fighter systems from “SAAB AB” such as Gripen, Neuron (unmanned aircraft) and other development projects.SAAB AB has the following issues: Setup time of different parts in the specified departments is higher for the quality checking. The quality inspection of different parts is manual and takes much time. Use of scanning technology to reduce inspection time and increase reliability.The writers of the research work has done a comprehensive investigation and critical analysis of the current condition of the specified departments of “SAAB AB” and made a research work on how to make the process more efficient by implementing automation especially with the use of scanning technology and reduce the huge development cost.The developing process of a new product involves the manufacturing of prototypes and their work holding devices. The company in focus for this study often has to make very complex fixtures which are much time consuming and less cost efficient than if the firm would be able to use standardised fixtures. In addition the projects that involve the development of prototypes for one-piece production if unsuccessful are often closed without any future commercial production. The authors have tried to find out the solution for the development projects of “SAAB AB” by studying different Swedish and other renowned industries, mostly automobile and aerospace companies. Another task has been to choose vendors for the CMM and Laser Scanner products as well as suitable software for them. The thesis writing team has investigated the software and hardware systems of industrial metrology especially on the CMMs and Laser Scanners; their manufacturers and also the “Interoperability” issue that lies between the metrology software and 3D CAD modelling software.One of the big challenges has been to choose vendors for the hardware of measurement instruments from a very large market. The authors have selected suitable vendors of laser scanners and portable arms on the basis of market study, the features of those hardware to measure accurately, rapidly and quick setup. Choosing a specific model of hardware was avoided as this research work could be used, not only for this project rather than any other similar future reference for same types of research work.This project demands an overall solution that can be integrated within the parameters of the constraints such as CATIA V5 as software and also using MBD (Model Based Designing) models, Based on this the authors have chosen the most compatible software platform that can be found in the market today.