Representation and selection of assembly sequences in computer-aided assembly process planning

In order to determine the best sequence to be used for the assembly of a product, all the feasible sequences should first be identified and then they should be evaluated in order to select the best one. However, since there usually exists a large number of feasible sequences, an efficient and compact representation method is necessary. A representation method called the Assembly Sequence Graph is presented in this paper, which offers a useful tool to the engineers in the industry in order to conveniently represent all the feasible assembly sequences, and then to evaluate them using qualitative and quantitative criteria. An example has been provided to illustrate the proposed approach.