Measuring 16 feet long, 6 feet tall and 3 feet deep, the workstation is set up in a line to support one-piece-flow assembly.

Enhancements aimed at reducing Toyota’s carbon footprint have also benefited screwdriving, ergonomics and quality.

Oregon startup increases productivity by improving design, getting lean, and automating assembly.

The basis for solving our economic, social and environmental challenges can be found in a surprising place: the Toyota Production System.

In today’s manufacturing environment, which is characterized by change and unpredictable demand, the traditional assembly line is no longer convenient. New, flexible assembly systems are needed to deal with high production variety.

Whether managing an assembly line or an entire plant, good management skills are something not often taught in engineering school.

In the circus world, tightrope walking requires incredible balance and finesse. One wrong move can have dire consequences. Optimizing workflow on an assembly line is not as dangerous, but it requires a similar set of skills.

Brose Tuscaloosa Inc., Vance, AL, is the recipient of the the 2022 Assembly Plant of the Year Award.

Process improvement projects have traditionally struggled with obtaining accurate data quickly and easily. In many cases, various data sources provide competing sources of the truth. Smart technologies offer the means to provide a single source of the truth, without the time-consuming and labor-intensive efforts of the past.