# Optimizing Assembly in Wiring Boxes Using API Technology for Digital Twin
## 2 The State of the Art
The paper \"Innovative Solutions for the Covering Process in the Manufacturing of Wire Harnesses to Increase the Automation Degree\" summarizes a study on alternative processes to replace the manual taping process in wire harness manufacturing, to increase the degree of automation. The study explored alternative processes to replace the manual taping process in wire harness manufacturing, which accounts for over 30% of production time and represents the highest need for automation. The study involved the conception and validation of two prototypical test setups for different coating processes as alternatives to the manual taping process [5]. Research has been conducted to increase the level of automation in the wiring harness electrical testing process. In the paper \"Automation of Electrical Cable Harnesses Testing\" is described the development of a modular automated system for testing cable harnesses that outperform manual testing in terms of productivity, reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. To improve the system's adaptability, the modularization method was applied to optimize the design of individual modules and to reduce the interdependency between the modules in case of punctual upgrades. The case study conducted during this research revealed that the automated testing system outperformed manual testing in terms of cost-saving, productivity, and reliability, but further research is needed to make the system more adaptable to changing requirements [6]. The use of collaborative robots in the wire harness assembly process is a promising solution to improve productivity and worker ergonomics [7; 8]. The paper \"Specifying task allocation in automotive wire harness assembly stations for Human-Robot Collaboration\" presents a design methodology for human-centered manufacturing systems, focusing on task allocation and collaboration levels. The proposed methodology combines a hierarchical task analysis with assessments of the cognitive and physical levels of automation, the levels of human-robot collaboration, and the levels of operator skill requirements to identify possible combinations for automation and collaboration solutions. The methodology is intended to support system designers and integrators in identifying the potential and the extent of human-robot collaboration in collaborative manufacturing assembly operations [7]. The papers \"Wire Harness Assembly Process Supported by Collaborative Robots: Literature Review and Call for R&D\" and \"Wire Harness Assembly Process Supported by a Collaborative Robot: A Case Study Focus on Ergonomics\", further explore the potential of collaborative robots in this process, highlighting the need for further research in areas such as cost-benefit analyses and cycle times. Introducing a collaborative robot (cobot) into the process of arranging cable ties in wire harness assembly brings about a notable decrease in the ergonomic hazards faced by workers, as evidenced by the RULA and JSI scores. By handling the most repetitive and awkward positions, the cobot minimizes the amount of non-ergonomic responsibilities for the human operator. Additionally, the integration of a computer vision system with the cobot ensures that this collaborative approach is extremely flexible and can easily adjust to various wire harness categories and production batches [8]. [PERSON] et al. provide a specific application of collaborative robotics in the spot-taping process, demonstrating its potential to reduce processing time and improve worker conditions. The proposed method involves adding robotic arms to collaborate with human workers in the wire harness spot-taping process, with the robotic arms performing the spot taping while the human worker positions the cable. The proposed solution is expected to have a positive impact on companies producing wire harnesses and improve the ergonomic conditions of workers by removing the most tedious and repetitive tasks [9].