Automotive Assembly

Flex’s Multi-Industry Success is by Design

June 4, 2019

For Flex, there isn't a question of what can't they do, but what they will do next. The 50-year-old company began manufacturing electronic products, something it still does today, but has expanded to offer end-to-end production across the globe.

Carbon-Fiber Composites Grow in Popularity

Adhesives and fasteners can be used to assemble many types of composite parts

Austin Weber

June 3, 2019

Strong and lightweight, carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) offers numerous benefits to automotive and aerospace manufacturers. Many engineers are intrigued by potential applications for the material, yet remain frustrated by joining challenges.

Fiat Chrysler Seeks Merger With Renault

May 28, 2019

PARIS—Fiat Chrysler proposed on Monday to merge with France’s Renault to create the world’s third-biggest automaker (worth $40 billion) and combine forces in the race to make electric and autonomous vehicles.

Ford to Cut 7,000 Jobs by August; 900 This Week

May 21, 2019

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it is laying off about 7,000 managers and other salaried employees, about 10 percent of its white-collar workforce across the globe, as part of a restructuring plan designed to save the number two automaker $600 million annually.

IoT Promises a Future of Guaranteed Outcomes

Smart homes and autonomous driving will be built within ecosystems

Michael E. Fitzgerald

May 15, 2019

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.

Mazda-Toyota Suppliers to Create 800 Jobs in Alabama

May 14, 2019

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.

Self-Driving Robot Makes Life Easier for Ford Employees

May 14, 2019

VALENCIA, Spain—Autonomous vehicles from Ford are still a few years away, but one little robot is already showing what’s possible.

GM in Talks to Sell Lordstown Plant to Electric Truck Maker

May 14, 2019

LORDSTOWN, OH—General Motors Co. is in discussions to sell its idled assembly plant here to Workhorse Group Inc., a manufacturer of electric vehicles.

Generative Design Software Is Transforming the Design Process

Aided by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, generative design software is promising to transform the design process

John Sprovieri

May 13, 2019

This article is not as good as it could be. 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.

Assembly Plants at the Forefront of Industry 4.0

The Future is Now

Austin Weber

May 10, 2019

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.