Human-Robot Collaboration In a Small Scale Rail Industry: Demanufacturing Operations

Abstract

Trains car production around the globe has been happening for centuries in the developed and developing countries. However, components recovery of the end-of-life train cars is difficult to do without negatively affecting the quality and productivity of demanufacturing operations. South African rail industry lacks demanufacturing industries that focus on material recovery of end-of-life train cars. This study surveyed literature on robotics and their collaboration with humans in demanufacturing activities and identify key factors that can be useful in demanufacturing operations in a small-scale rail industry. This study used process charts to study and understand robotics collaboration with humans focusing on demanufacturing operations. This study intended to develop a framework for human's collaboration with robotics in small-scale demanufacturing operations rail industry.