International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The paper presents the process of automated designing and parametric modeling of fixtures for manufacturing grapple buckets using the CAD system. The presented grapple buckets are designed for bulk materials and they are part of the grapple construction. Grapples are installed on cranes, excavators and other specialized machines. A methodology has been developed that covers all stages of design – from the creation of 3D models of the parts, sub-assemblies and assemblies, to the generation of design documentation through template files. The presented approach allows the development of parametric models with multiple configurations, which cover different variants of the products. Using the presented methodology leads to a reduction in the volume of generated documentation and optimizes the design process. Data management within a PDM system ensures centralized storage, actuality and accessibility of information.

Today, it is imperative that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of any economy, make the transition to the Industry 4.0 paradigm and adopt new technologies to improve business and become competitive in the marketplace. Some SMEs in the metalworking industry in Croatia face the challenges of achieving and maintaining a competitive position in the market within the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Due to problems with inadequate enterprise information systems, without the application of innovative technologies, due to obsolete machinery and equipment in production, enterprises cannot compete in a globalized market. Enterprises need to respond quickly to customized and individualized customer requirements and need to be flexible for producing numerous versions of products in small batches. To achieve this, enterprises need to introduce new innovative technologies of Industry 4.0, such as Big Data, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, RFID technology, …
The objective of this paper is to review RFID technology and propose a conceptual model for the application of RFID technology in a metalworking enterprise in Croatia. That enterprise belongs to the category of SMEs that represent the basis of the economy of each country. The paper describes the problems faced by the company in production monitoring and gives a proposal for the application of RFID technology to monitor the production and to facilitate production management using an ERP system.