Auto-Kabel, the global automotive supplier, manufactures cable and lead sets for power supply applications. The friction welding machines deployed in the process must always have an adequate supply of material without excessive safety stocks. To ensure the material doesn’t run out and lead to machine idle time, Auto-Kabel needed a system to provide total transparency of stock levels in first-in, first-out (FIFO) racks and to ensure reliable parts replenishment.
At Auto-Kabel’s eight manufacturing locations, line-side flow racks present parts and materials to workers and machines. Parts are delivered in storage bins. The flow-rack system is also deployed at the company’s headquarters operation in Hausen im Wiesental. The racks are located next to the manufacturing machines and provide operators with components such as cable shoes and eyelets. The flow racks contain more than 90 stock locations. Each location is filled with three bins, and each bin contains approximately 400 parts.