Special Reports | Assembly

BMW Applies AI to Assembly

AI is helping BMW inspect parts, control processes and route AGVs.

June 29, 2022

BMW has been at the forefront of Industry 4.0 for years. For example, the company was an early adopter of additive manufacturing, and today prints hundreds of thousands of production parts annually.

Industry 4.0 at Škoda

Digital twins, autonomous mobile robots and AI are some of the cutting-edge technologies helping European automaker Škoda compete.

John Sprovieri

June 28, 2022

Like many long-established car manufacturers, the company that would become Škoda Auto started in the early 1890s by making bicycles. Today, you won’t see velocipedes rolling off of Škoda assembly lines, but you just might see plug-in electric vehicles.

Measuring the Value of Digital Transformation

Austin Weber

June 23, 2022

Most manufacturers agree that digital transformation is necessary to remain competitive today and thrive tomorrow. Many large companies have already begun initiatives. But, when asked to quantify the impact of those initiatives on the bottom line, they often come up short.

Factory of the Future, Volume 2: The Future is Now

June 20, 2022

Industry 4.0 is underway. Data analytics, augmented reality, generative design, artificial intelligence, cobots, additive manufacturing and other technologies are already helping manufacturers increase efficiency, lower prices, and improve service, delivery and quality. And there’s more to come.

Factory of the Future, Volume 1: Laying the Foundation

April 27, 2022

You must learn to walk before you can run. That aphorism is as true for product assembly as it is for learning how to draw or play golf. Before manufacturers can implement advanced automation technologies, they must first master their parts and processes. This eBook will provide information to help engineers plan for investments and improve their assembly operations before deploying advanced technologies.

Justifying Investment in Automation

Production ‘pain points’ should be identified and well documented.

Austin Weber

March 31, 2022

Justifying automation has never been easier. The Covid pandemic, coupled with a severe worker shortage, a widening skills gap and the "great resignation," has increased demand for automated guided vehicles, conveyors, robots and other types of equipment.

Inside or Outside?

Greater process control, lower setup costs and simple equipment programming make it easier than ever for manufacturers to build their automation in-house rather than hire a machine builder.

Jim Camillo

March 30, 2022

Some questions that manufacturers must address have a simple yes or no answer. Others are not so clear cut. A good example of the latter type is 'Should we build automation in-house?'

Capital Spending Survey: Assemblers Gear Up for Recovery

Capital Spending Survey 2021: Assemblers Gear Up for Recovery

With the pandemic subsiding and consumer spending on the rise, manufacturers are investing in their assembly operations.

December 7, 2021

In February 2020, U.S. manufacturers employed nearly 12.8 million people. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. In an instant, the country lost 1 million manufacturing jobs as governments and businesses scrambled to figure out how best to stop the spread of the disease.

2021 Assembly Plant of the Year: GKN Drives Transformation With New Culture, Processes and Tools

A two-year-long continuous improvement initiative pays off in Newton, NC.

Austin Weber

October 13, 2021

All-wheel drive (AWD) technology has taken the automotive world by storm in recent years, because of its ability to effectively transfer power to the ground. Today, many sport utility vehicles use AWD for better acceleration, performance, safety and traction in all kinds of driving conditions.