Improving the manufacturability and assembly efficiency of kapok seed separator

The kapok industry is full of potential because its fiber has a wide range of applications (furniture, apparel and automotive). Products made out of kapok have the potential to last for twenty years (kapok pillows and mattresses). To speed up the process of kapok fiber production, a group of diploma students from UTHM managed to develop a machine named as the Kapok Seed Separator. The machine is able to separate the kapok seed from its fiber in a shorter time compared to the traditional way. A prototype of this machine is favorable by many SMEs but the design can still be improved in order to enhance its manufacturability and assembly efficiency. In this research, the DFMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) was used to improve the design of the machine. As a result, the total manufacturing cost and assembly labor time were reduced by 28.2% and 42.3% respectively. The weight of the machine was also reduced by 30.9%. Moreover, the improved design of the machine is easier to be assembled because it has a higher DFA index. These results will aid the commercialization initiatives because the improved design will be cheaper to produce and maintain. Most importantly, the machine will be affordable to most SMEs and the throughput of these companies will improve significantly