A decade or so from now, you may find yourself traveling along an interstate in a caravan. Your automobile is separated by just a few inches from the vehicle in front of you and the one behind as you speed along at 150 miles per hour.
HUNTSVILLE, AL—A pair of Japanese automotive parts manufacturers have announced plans to build new factories in northern Alabama to supply the Mazda Toyota joint-venture assembly plant under construction here. Together, the facilities are expected to employ 780 people.
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I spent many days researching the topic, finding sources, conducting interviews, and finally writing and organizing what I learned. I could have included extra information or contacted additional sources. I could have polished one section or an-other. But, at some point, the article needed to be done.
Factories of the future will feature advanced technology, such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, data analytics and digital twins. While many manufacturers are still ramping up their Industry 4.0 initiatives, several assembly plants are already at the forefront. They are embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution and reaping the benefits.
When General Motors opened the Detroit Transmission plant in Livonia, MI, in 1949, the 1.5-million-square-foot facility sym-bolized the resounding success of the most popular component in American automobiles—the Hydra-Matic Drive transmis-sion.
At the Components and Logistics facility in Gastonia, NC, Daimler Trucks fulfills orders and sub-assembly of thousands of parts. The plant provides parts for North American truck and school bus manufacturers, as well as auto parts stores.
LANSING, MI–The Michigan Strategic Fund is supporting planned expansions by three Tier 1 suppliers that will generate nearly $30 million in private investment and create 262 jobs in northern and southeast Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation recently announced. The three suppliers are Concord Tool and Manufacturing Inc., erae AMS USA Manufacturing LLC and Ventra Evart LLC.
BREMEN, Germany—Although the 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV won't be arriving at U.S. dealers until sometime next year, the first production version just rolled off the line in Germany.