i-mfg Intelligent Manufacturing Technology
What is “Intelligent Manufacturing (i-mfg) Technlogy”?
“i-mfg" is a technology for enterprises to establish intelligent and highly automated
manufacturing system with the advantages:
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Integration – allow all stand-alone equipment work simultaneously under a
well-coordinated environment within a work cell
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Intelligence – highly autonomous and coordination ability to meet the
production needs
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Immediacy – quick respond to order changes
"Flexible Manufacturing Technology (FMT)" forms the technology backbone of the imfg. With the application of an intelligent automated computerized system and
programmable machinery, a "Flexible Manufacturing Cell (FMC)" can be established
to realize "Agile Manufacturing" in fulfilling rapid changes of the market demand.
What is Flexible Manufacturing Technology (FMT)?
FMT - using a computer system to co-ordinate the machinery and resources within a
Flexible Manufacturing Cell (FMC) to achieve intelligent manufacturing capability and
efficiency. This intelligent system combines advanced automation, information and
manufacturing technologies. FMT typically contains computer control and
optimization system, highly flexible production and testing equipment, robotic
arm(s), materials storage system and security facilities.
Benefits of "i-mfg Technology"
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Production of diversified products without frequent replacement of production
machinery through machine re-programming to cope with rapid market changes
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Flexible production processes to meet different product requirements of
individual orders
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Fully automated production to eliminate the production losses due to human
errors
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24-hour non-stop automated production equipped with precise and quickchanging jigs & fixtures to reduce setup time; improve equipment utilization up
to at least 1.5-2 times and reduce the equipment pay back immediately
Integration of CAD/CAM systems to enable direct downloading of NC programs
correctly without human errors
Real-time machine status and quality monitoring to enhance the production
management and product quality
Reduction of work-piece transportation distances among production machinery
and related equipment to improve production efficiency
With the funding support from the ITF, HKPC has developed the “Intelligent Mould (iMould) Manufacturing System” to assist Hong Kong enterprises to achieve
“intelligent manufacturing” by utilizing existing machines as much as possible with
minimal investment in hardware and software.
Effectiveness of "Intelligent Mould Manufacturing (i-mould)"
In addition to those general benefits of "i-mfg Technology", i-mould also has the
following characteristics:
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By applying i-mould manufacturing system, existing machine tools with different
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types and brands can be integrated, resolving the doubt of the need in investing
all brand new machine tools as well as the issue of machine tools accuracy
mould work-cell can offer one-stop production for EMD electrodes, machining
work-pieces and mould inserts, with dimension accuracy measurement by a
linked CMM automatically. Both machining and verification processes can be
arbitrarily changed according to the requirements of individual parts to cope
with various types of orders
Role of HKPC
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To promote i-mfg technology and i-mould Manufacturing System
To assist industry to evaluate the feasibility of realizing i-mfg
To provide training and implementation consultancy on i-mfg technology
To provide one-stop intelligent manufacturing technology support service to
industry through the successful development of an i-mould solution in order to
realize intelligent mould manufacturing more efficiently and economically
Enquiry :
Tel : 2788 5330
Fax : 2788 5522
Email : mts@hkpc.org