Designing a graphical user interface-based expert system for vibratory bowl feeder tooling specification

The assembly of a composite product manufactured in large volume is arguably the most costly operation in the manufacturing process. Often, products are designed for functionality alone. Manufacturing costs can be reduced dramatically at the design stage if the method of assembly is considered and the design of the product modified. Previous literature focuses on assembly as the design criterion, encapsulates the process as a philosophy and ascribes the generic name "DFA" [Design for Assembly] to the procedure. The authors have devised an expert system for designing a product based on DFA. A key feature of the system is its capacity to specify details of tooling used in vibratory feeders to deliver parts at high speed, in a specific orientation to an insertion device. Details of the rules used to effect the above are highlighted in this paper.