Tier 1 automotive supplier Tower Automotive (Novi, MI) designs and produces structural components and assemblies for automotive and truck manufacturers worldwide. In 2003-2004, the company won more contracts to launch more new product lines than at any other time in its history.
Modern automotive frame assembly is extremely complex, covering dozens of steps and stations and incorporating hundreds of discrete components. Since peak profitability for a vehicle model is usually when it is first introduced, it is important that ramp-up time to full production be held to an absolute minimum-which further complicates the business.