Austin Weber

Traditionally, using any material other than metal in the engine compartment was unthinkable. But, that old rule of thumb is changing as many automakers and suppliers use plastic to reduce vehicle weight.

All five recipients of ASSEMBLY Magazine's Assembly Plant of the Year award are customer-driven organizations.

The other day, a flying car called the Transition made a successful test flight in New York. The two-seat vehicle transforms itself from a plane to a car in less than 30 seconds. It can drive on highway speeds on the road and fits in a standard household garage.

While many college students spend their Spring Break soaking up sun, a group from Purdue University is travelling to Germany to learn about manufacturing.

A decade after General Motors outsourced its parts-making operations in a widely publicized move, the company has just quietly acquired its old steering division. Is this part of an ongoing trend among large manufacturers?

When most engineers think about “flexibility,” they imagine robots. The devices can perform a wide variety of repeatable tasks. But, their flexibility is limited by some programming and parts feeding challenges.

Future generations of green vehicles will depend on in-wheel motors. The technology involves a combination to wheels, tires, motors, brakes, steering, suspension and cooling systems. It eliminates the need for traditional components such as engines, transmissions, differentials and transmission shafts, which can result in a 10 percent to 25 percent weight reduction and a 20 percent to 30 percent fuel savings.

It appears that General Motors plans to pull the plug on its Saturn division. If so, the 18-year-old brand will join other nameplates that you now only find in museums or classic car shows. But, Saturn will always be associated with assembly line innovation.

If you have a good idea for building an extremely fuel-efficient vehicle, the X Prize Foundation wants to hear from you. The goal of the prize is to inspire a new generation of production-capable vehicles that can exceed the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon. Teams that successfully compete in a series of stage races held in different parts of the United States will be eligible to share in a $10 million award.

A truly flexible assembly plant could produce cars, aircraft engines, refrigerators, cell phones and bagpipes on the same line. However, that type of scenario probably will never happen, because there are limits to flexibility. In fact, the most flexible type of factory may be a disposable factory.