Automation of watch head and strap assembly

Challenge Details

We are a leading watch manufacturing company. The assembly of a watch is a process in which skilled manpower assembles the watch head with the strap. Over the last few years, the rate of production has been increased from 14 M to 22 M watches annually. This increase in the production volume could be achieved either by hiring more skilled personnel or increase the work hours of existing workforce. In either case, ensuring the quality of output remains a challenge. Therefore, it is required to identify a suitable automation system that can automate watch head and strap assembly operations with no or a minimal manual intervention.

• Options tried to solve before:

1. Tried for simple semi-automated method of strap assembly with swiss assembly technology (spring bar assembly – connecting component of watch head + strap) for trial/study purpose. However, this technology was discontinued from the use as it was not meeting our requirements as per profile, dimension of locators etc.
2. Attempt to automate strap assembly using the above technology with the internal support is on-going.

• Future State:

Semi/complete automation of strap assembly and quality check processes.

• Constraints:

Automation of strapping assembly is difficult as the system needs to provide integrated solution for different profile of watch heads, straps and connecting pins.

• Success criteria:

Demo for strapping assembly - Simple model of spring bar assembly, support bar assembly, pin and tube assembly.