YOKOHAMA, Japan--Nissan Motor Co. is attempting to foster a corporate culture that produces manufacturing innovations in leaps and bounds instead of steady incremental improvement. Corporate Vice President Atsuhiko Hayakawa says the new approach is called kakushin, which means to deliver change that's a multiple of a previous improvement.
SAN FRANCISCO--Cruise, the self-driving car startup that sold to General Motors last year, has developed a production design vehicle based on the Bolt electric vehicle. Temporarily dubbed Generation 3, the car is now ready for the factory production line. Thus far, the company has produced about 50 of the cars.
Ultrasonic welding can handle most plastics assembly applications. Other friction-based processes, such as vibration welding and spin welding, can usually tackle the rest. However, that necessitates investing in three separate machines at considerable cost.
In August, workers at Nissan Motor Co.’s assembly plant in Canton, MS, voted nearly two to one against representation by the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Robots used to be thought of strictly as stationary machines. They were bolted to a floor, table, ceiling or wall and that’s where they stayed. But, that’s beginning to change.
INGOLSTADT, Germany—While automotive manufacturing may have more than 100 years of history under its belt, it could see a radical change if Audi has its way. The automaker is exploring the idea of ditching the assembly line altogether.
WINDSOR, ON—Full production at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles assembly plant here resumed early Wednesday morning, after flooding from two days of heavy rain halted the assembly of minivans there late Tuesday evening. As water began to stream into the plant, the automaker sent about 2,000 hourly employees home at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. MORE
DETROIT—A former UAW associate director has pleaded guilty to misusing money from Fiat Chrysler that was intended to train blue-collar workers. Virdell King pleaded guilty Tuesday to one felony count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act. Under a plea agreement, she faces up to 16 months in prison and restitution payments of up to $15,000.