Design and Development of a Lean Robotic Cell for Concrete 3D Printing

Abstract

This study enhances the efficiency of concrete 3D printing for prefabricated lightweight slabs by implementing lean principles and robotic automation. Benchmarking an existing optimized slab design and simulating a lean robotic cell revealed significant improvements in production time, automation efficiency, quality assurance, cost savings, workspace optimization, and continuous improvement through sensor data collection. The study compares the current manufacturing process with a proposed lean process for a complex octagonal slab design. Assumptions on building dimensions, slab requirements, printing methods, and materials facilitated the analysis. The current process takes 10 hours per slab, including printing, reinforcement placement, and drying. Lean principles aim to reduce waste and boost productivity, enhancing the manufacturing efficiency of prefabricated lightweight slabs.