Cost Effectiveness Analysis of the Automation of Sheet Metal Industry-A Case Study of the Laser Machines inthe B Company

• Main Authors: Sheng-Fu Chang, 張勝富
• Other Authors: Wen-Ruey Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/40889236471146860196

碩士 === 崑山科技大學 === 企業管理研究所 === 105 === Sheet metal industry in Taiwan faces the impact of global competition and dramatically changed domestic business environment, that using automation equipment for improving competitiveness becomes an inevitable trend. The B Company is one of the sheet metal manufacturers in Tainan. The B Company have purchased 3 laser cutting machines, but due to the lack in manpower and training, its’ capacity is still unable to meet business needs. The B Company hopes to reduce the reliance on manpower by using automation equipment as well improving the quality and production capacity. Therefore, the study mainly discusses the cost effectiveness by comparing current laser cutting machine with that of automated similar equipment. The conclusions of the study can be a solid foundation for B Company for purchasing next automation machine. Also, the conclusions can be helpful to those who are interested in investing automation machines, so that it will be more effective for them to plan and control activities of purchasing automation machines. The first chapter of the study is talking about the background, motivation, purpose, scope, limitations, and process of the study. The second chapter is literature review for sheet metal manufacturing industry on laser cutting, principles of operation, and procedures of cost benefit analysis. The third chapter regards the methodology that describing how cost data and information of the laser equipment operation be collected. In the chapter 4, cost data of CO2 laser cutting machine and automation fiber laser cutting machine, both used in the B Company, are collected and analyzed. The result shows that the automation fiber laser cutting machine is obviously superior in cost effectiveness than that of the CO2 laser cutting machine, not only in cost benefits but also in quality and production capacity. Finally, the conclusions and suggestions of the study are in the charter 5. It shows that technical improvement and automation equipment is always the excellent weapon of the sheet metal industry. The automation machine can enhance the production efficiency, product quality, and can overcome the shortage of manpower and training in the company. Even the initial cost of purchasing automation machine is higher, but the ultimate benefit is relatively higher, and moreover, resulting in better company’s image and reputation.