Automotive assembly plants comprise a complex dance of basic raw material, highly technical tools and human labor to produce one of civilizations’ most sophisticated engineering feats. Technology and systems analysis has dissected the process into subsystems, with various tiers of manufacturers focusing on those subsystems. However, no matter where in the process you are, you can manage the complexity by attending to its components.
Automobile assembly has come a long way since Henry Ford’s foray in the early 1900s. The process can be distilled into three aspects:
1. Inventory systems to bring raw materials to the vehicle assembly line;
2. Conveyor systems to move the car assembly down the line;
3. Robotics to execute the assembly process.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Furnish yourself with a well-organized inventory system to feed the vehicle assembly line
Whether you stock raw materials for manufacturing parts or assemble subsystems into the final auto, you must keep the supply chain lean but strong. Deciding how much stock to have on hand versus brought in just-in-time will determine the type and complexity of the inventory system you must manage in your plant.
I recommend: SJF Material Handling claims to be the largest source of material handling equipment in the U.S.
Flow-Rite Inc. supplies storage system and assembly line feed equipment especially for the automotive industry. Request a quote.
Acquire a strong conveyor system to keep the auto assembly line from stalling
Once the parts are in place, the right conveyor systems smoothly transition the parts and subsystems from station to station, advancing the process forward from unfinished parts to final product.
I recommend: Founded in 1970,
Allor Manufacturing focuses on the conveyor system itself, forging chains, custom rollers and special bearing assemblies for the automotive and steel industries. Another heavy player headquartered in Southeast Michigan since 1965,
Dominion Technologies, Inc. runs seven plants in the US, Europe and China and specializes in the trim, chassis, and final assembly aspects of automotive assembling.
Deploy robots to execute the car assembly process
In the right circumstances, robots can accomplish assembly work more accurately, more consistently and with greater safety than humans can, under conditions people would find intolerable. As materials technology advances and the overall auto assembly becomes more complex, engineers have adapted robots accordingly, now even incorporating them as part of the conveyor system.
I recommend: Since 1988,
AGV Products has installed Automatic Guided Vehicle systems in Powertrain, Assembly and Stamping applications in the automotive industry.
ABB supplies robotic systems to handle various assembly duties from powertrain assembly to paint and press automation.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- With the intricacy of the system, don't overlook computer hardware and software that can simplify management of your automobile assembly plant. From chips that can locate individual parts to communications software that lets robots "talk" to each other through the process, computers can automate more mundane tasks, letting you focus on fine-tuning the process, look for ways to improve or streamline the automobile assembly line and grow your share of the market.
The official source of Automotive Assembly is the Automotive Assembly page at Business.com
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