Towards a model for robust design and design process in one-of-a-kind production of large power transformers

The robust engineering seeks for design of products and processes insensitive to changes in the work environment and to the variation of the components. The robust process has built-in mechanisms to detect potential errors on time, to eliminate them and to initiate all the necessary measures to ensure the same error does not occur again. One-of-a-kind production is characterised by unique products which contain characteristics of prototypes with all the imperfections. Such an industrial environment is very specific, therefore robust design process plays a key role in the final value of the product. Based on a systematic analysis of the sample company, this paper proposes a model of multi-level, systematic approach for a complete renewal of system information and working methodology, where reorganisation of activities are anticipated to result in an increase of overall effectiveness.