Smart and flexible manufacturing systems using Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and the Internet of Things (IoT)

Abstract

Technologies such as Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and the Internet of Things (IoT) increasingly disrupt traditional manufacturing and production systems. However, there is a scarcity of empirical studies synthesising and evaluating the impact of disruptive technologies on existing manufacturing systems. This study examines the impact of AGVs applying IoT on Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) through a case study demonstrating the integration of AGVs with IoT in a manufacturing company. As a concept, FMS was conceived decades ago; this study uses socio-technical systems theory to elaborate the concept of FMS into the current context. Key themes uncovered from the literature review include (i) AGVs in warehouse systems, (ii) AGV scheduling and routing, (iii) Human-machine interface, and (iv) integrating and controlling AGVs/IoT. The case study demonstrates how AGVs can create smart, flexible manufacturing systems by taking the following steps: (a) problem identification, (b) performance measurement, (c) designing the proposed solution, (d) evaluate IoT systems, (e) implementation of the new solution, and (f) future improvements. The study concludes with specific recommendations to implement Industry 4.0 in manufacturing companies.

KEYWORDS:

• Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• flexible manufacturing systems
• smart manufacturing
• industry 4.0
• case study

Data availability statement

The data supporting this study's findings are available from the second author [RM Pascazzi] upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ilias Vlachos

Dr. Ilias P. Vlachos is currently Professor in Supply Chain Management at Excelia Business School, France. Ilias’s research focuses on the impact of technologies on supply chains. He has extensively studied food supply chains and he is a member of European Technology Platform ´Food for Life´. Ilias has over 20 years in academia and holds a Ph.D. from Cranfield University, UK where he studied with full scholarship from Greek government. Ilias has extensive experience working with top UK and global universities, in various leadership roles such as research degrees director and research manager, including Leeds University Business School and Newcastle Business School. Ilias serves as an reviewer and guest editor in various top journals. Ilias has published over 120 articles and studies including 4* and 3* ABS journals.

Rodrigo Martinez Pascazzi

Rodrigo Martinez Pascazzi is a TIE (Total Industrial Engineering) Assistant Manager at DENSO Marston Ltd with previous experience at other DENSO facilities. His focus lies in Operational efficiency and effectiveness. He graduated as Industrial Engineer at the Catholic University of Cordoba and then obtained his MBA at the University of Leeds.

Miltiadis Ntotis

Miltiadis Ntotis hods a MSc in Supply Chain Management & Logistics from Cranfield University and a BA (Hons) from Alexander Technological Educational Institution of Thessaloniki, Greece. Miltiadis is currently working in Intertrans Freight Forwarding Co. Thessaloniki, Greece in the Export management and Invoicing Department.

Konstantina Spanaki

Konstantina Spanaki is an Associate Professor of Digital Supply Chain Management at Audencia Business School. Prior to this role Konstantina has been working at Loughborough University and Imperial College London in areas around Technology Management. Konstantina’s main research areas lie within the intersection of Information Systems (IS) and Operations Management (OM). Recently, she is actively involved in projects related to Digital Supply Chain, Data and Technology Management, Data Sharing and Disruptive Technologies.

Stella Despoudi

Dr. Stella Despoudi is adjunct Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Western Macedonia in Greece and Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the Aston Business School, Aston University, UK. Stella’s research expertise lies in the following research areas: food supply chain sustainability and resilience, food waste and food sustainability, circular economy and industry 4.0. She has been the lead investigator in research projects related to Food Supply Chain Management such as ‘Sustainability, Resilience, and the Impact of Industry 4.0 in the Food Supply Chain’. Stella’s previous work has been published in journals such as International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Annals of Operations Research, and International Journal of Production Research.

Panagiotis Repoussis

Dr Panagiotis Repoussis is Assistant Professor for Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics at the Department of Marketing and Communication, School of Business at Athens University of Economics and Business (Athens, Greece). He has published in a variety of highly ranked journals several papers on the design, development and application of mathematical models and computationally intelligent algorithms to aid rigorous decision making in operational planning and scheduling of resources. He is member of the editorial boards of Transportation Research Part E and Advances of Operation Research. He has served as member of the board of directors for the Hellenic Operational Research Society and the board of the College of Service Operations of the Production and Operations Management Society. Finally, Dr. Repoussis has been also involved as senior research and principal investigator in various NSF and EU funded research projects, and his research has been funded by non-profit organisations and private companies in EU and USA.