Importance of Sustainable Collaborative Workplaces – Simulation Modelling Approach

Abstract

The paper presents the use of simulation modelling methods to evaluate the impact of the collaborative workplaces (human-robot collaboration) importance in correlation to the sustainable manufacturing. Based on an example, numerical simulation results of an existing manual assembly workplace and a newly proposed collaborative workplace are presented using production parameters that describe all three key aspects of sustainable manufacturing: economic, social and environmental aspect. A data-driven simulation model was used, mainly using the input parameters of the real-world production system and numerical assumptions obtained from the literature, with the main objective of detailing the impact on the sustainable orientation of the production process. The results presented in the paper demonstrate the high suitability of simulation modelling methods in the evaluation of existing and newly proposed technologies from the sustainable manufacturing point of view. The results demonstrate that collaborative workplaces, if implemented appropriately and using correct input data, are a possible solution that can cope with limited human resources and ensure high production efficiency.