Quality
Electrification and digitalisation go hand in hand at Ford and VW
As the automotive industry electrifies, manufacturing is changing dramatically and OEMs are using big data to keep pace with that change. Increasingly moving into the world of tech, old quality control processes may no longer suffice since a lot of EV components cannot be reworked like traditional equivalents. Manufacturing has to be ultra-precise like never before.
Watch: Electrifying Production – How to build an electric future (Pt.2)
In the second part of our Electrifying Production Livestream series, AMS explores how OEMs are ramping up EV production through modular strategies, data analytics and advanced joining and metrology tools. Featuring Volkswagen Group, Ford, Renishaw and Atlas Copco.
The time is now to start integrating robotics into plant and warehouse logistics
Robotics have enabled major productivity gains in manufacturing, but as the technology becomes more affordable and labour gets harder to find and more expensive, it could start to play a bigger role in the plant logistics and warehousing, too, helping workers do their jobs more safely and quickly.
AI and automation in automotive production need people and quality data to succeed
Experts from BMW, Ford, Symbio Robotics and Cosmo Tech discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in automotive production need fast ramp-up times and adoption by employees to succeed. High-quality data and use of simulation are also key.
Watch: The latest technology from Coherent solves your most challenging welding tasks in e-mobility battery manufacturing
A major leap in fiber laser welding technology that can significantly improve your productions processes.
How to test EV battery packs
Testing EV components is now an important addition to OEM and tier supplier quality control processes. Chuck Hagyard from Cincinnati Test Systems, shares some insights into critical leak test-related challenges and considerations
Mofid Elkemiri, LEVC manufacturing operations and quality director
LEVC’s Mofid Elkemiri was recruited to the Geely-owned company back in 2016 as launch director for the TX5 electric taxi. Prior to that he spent six years at UK-based trim supplier CAB Automotive, where he rose to the position of engineering and quality director. AMS speaks to him about his current role, ramping up production, battery cell supply and the relationship with the parent company. But first, we ask how the factory has been affected by the recent coronavirus measures and the suspension of production…
Investing in testing: better scrutiny for complex new vehicles
Rigorous testing of new vehicles, systems and components has become more important as complexity of the products increases and pressure to reduce time to market grows. AMS visits Test World in Finland to see some of the developments introduced to meet this demand…
Do or die: quality and precision begins with the toolmaking
Mould and die manufacturers reveal the latest solutions deployed to ensure quality control remains paramount
Measure for measure: as vehicle tech advances, so do the test methods
To improve vehicle and component quality, and reduce time to market for new models, testing technologies need to be smarter and faster
Switched on to the data age
Siemens explains why new smart automotive factories are presenting huge opportunity to electronics component suppliers
At the centre of change for Volkswagen Group
Martin Hofmann, chief information office of the Volkswagen Group (pictured, right), explains how the carmaker is transforming its IT system backbone and legacy infrastructure across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain and engineering – and how Volkswagen is now able to attract top software talent.
Nexen Tire opens new plant in Zatec
Czech Republic - The new Nexen Tire facility includes an automated quality system that identifies defects before they are made
Quick learners
From training, quality and work station design, OEMs are seeing a host of applications that can benefit from virtual and augmented reality technology
Valmet starts building battery test centre
Germany - Valmet is upping its game in the battery field for electric vehicles
Estimating the true cost of metrology in automotive BIW laser radar as part of quality 4.0
Quality 4.0 is a new vision for quality following the lead of the Industry 4.0 concept. Automotive production relies on quality to upkeep an automaker’s brand image within its customer base.
Pressing matters
Our vehicles have all faced hazards at one time or another, from potholes in the road to rocks or broken glass. But what about protection when the hazards are ballistic threats to the safety of civil servants or service men and women?
Assembly line automation
Nextsense says its Calipri systems can be used to monitor the process of car assembly from body-in-white to end-of-line final assembly. The company claims its fully automatic C12 cobot systems allows human workers and robots to work side by side in a continuous production line – without separation, mechanical barriers ...
PSA's Poissy plant to add model
France - Groupe PSA has revealed that it will start making the new Opel/Vauxhall B-SUV at its Poissy plant, which is located about an hour north west of the French capital Paris. As a result, the facility will become the first to assemble a vehicle based on the company’s common ...