In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, optimizing assembly processes to reduce training and rework costs while maintaining product quality is essential for any business looking to stay competitive.
Since EV manufacturing is a relatively new industry, experienced assemblers are few and far between. Error-proofing technology is therefore critical to ensure quality and safety.
Contrary to widespread public concern about robots taking away jobs, people still play a key role on assembly lines. In fact, people still perform 72 percent of manufacturing tasks.
About 18 months ago, one of the major automotive companies came to the Indicon Conference looking for a way to decrease mistakes on the assembly line. They found a solution in a concept named the Error Proofing Platform Station (EPP).
In May, BMW’s assembly plant in Munich celebrated its 100th anniversary. Spanning nearly 5.4 million square feet and employing some 7,800 people, the factory assembles 1,000 cars and 2,000 engines daily.
On an assembly line, a fastening tool is typically set up to install specific fasteners at a specific workstation. While an assembler might be tempted to use that tool to help a colleague down the line, such good intentions could actually lead to fastening errors. To keep that from happening, several companies have developed a variety of ways to ensure that fastening tools stay put.
Building complex assemblies is now a standard practice for electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies. This reality applies to firms that do work locally, nationally or internationally.