Toyota raising the bar in manufacturing efficiency
Toyota Motor is methodically going about the task of increasing the efficiency (and lowering the cost) of automotive manufacturing, with its most visible project: a massive upgrade to its 660,000 units a year Takaoka assembly plant.Toyota CEO Katusuaki Watanabe predicts that the upgrades will make the Takaoka plant "a model for Toyota plants of the future." The plant is the model for clone facilities in the U.S., Canada and France, and innovations proven at Takaoka will plug right in at sister facilities around the world.
Don't expect radical new high-tech to be part of Toyota's factory of the future - Toyota's forte is assembling proven small-scale innovations into new systems that are greater than the sum of their parts. Takaoka's upgrades include:
- a new welding system that dramatically cuts the cost of jigs and tooling
- a "set parts system" that delivers a kit of parts for each vehicle so line workers don't have to sort through parts bins for the right part
- new stamping presses that use servo-motors to replace hydraulics, combined with high-speed delivery robots
- a new paint process that eliminates the need to dry the base coat, plus faster electro-static rust-coating.
[Source: Automotive News]
- Reviewing a Cobalt reveals some surprises The biggest shock is that The Truth About Cars' Chris Paukert knows the root of the word cobalt. The other surprises include really bad images throughout the review and the fact that the Cobalt is suc ...
- Answering everyone's auto questions OK it seems the two biggest beefs we've heard so far is "where's the rear-end shot of the Jetta" and "can you really fit in the back seat of the Audi A3." So here are images to answer your questions. ...
- Detroit Auto Show: Jetta me not impressed I'll readily admit I went into the show not expecting to like the Jetta in person. And what do you know I was right. I don't think the rear-end is as Corolla-esque as in photographs, I can see now how ...
- Finally a regular Chevy Cobalt review I was bitching about not seeing a review of the non-SS Cobalt just yesterday and Bam! My bitching has been answered by none other than Paul and Anita Leinert. Luckily the review is not in the He Drove ...
- Most ill informed editorial I've read this year I know we're only three days into 2005 but I've already found one of those bonehead columns only a non-car person could write. Unfortunately it comes in the form of a staff editorial at the Union Lead ...
- Autoblog Garage: Car of the Year Round 2 Last week the Mazda RX-8, Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible GT and Dodge SRT-4 won the first round of the Autoblog Garage. This week features a diverse group with some solid performers and one of the mo ...
- 2005 Suzuki Reno: In The Autoblog Garage Day 2 Driving the new Suzuki Reno on dry roads was such a pleasure compared to my snowy initiation behind the wheel on Day 1. In the light of day the Suzuki is a pleasant commuter with plenty of power at hi ...
- SEMA Update: RL A-Spec gets one big yawn I happen to be a fan of the TL looks, not so much with the A-Spec package. So when Acura announced the A-Spec for the less-than-spectacular looking RL, I didn't expect much. From this pic it looks lik ...
- Crash tests make Subaru Outback perfect, Chrysler 300 not too shabby The first round of 2005 NHTSA crash tests has concluded and the undisputed winner is the Subaru Outback SUV. SUV? Last time I looked it was a wagon, but that's still a terrific win for Subaru as their ...
- New Jetta spied Here's a sneak peak of what is thought to be the next gen Volkswagen Jetta. Enthusiast site GermanCarFans.com posted the picture with an explanation that the new Jetta was unveiled for dealers to buil ...
0 Responses to » Toyota raising the bar in manufacturing efficiency
Leave your response!