Transforming Automobile Assembly

For the world's leading car-makers, the early 1990s brought radical changes. The reports published by MIT shocked management in European and American industries. Former major companies had to face consequences no one had expected. The assembly-lines were reorganized in order to achieve higher quality at lower costs. Five years after the MIT report, this book poses the question: What are the results of this revolution in work organization? Scientists and practitioners, many of them involved in earlier reports, evaluate the changes to the automotive industry in Europe and Japan. An insight into recent concepts in automation and the organization of production.

G. Volpato, A. Camuffo, A. Comacchio 1.1 The background During recent years the dynamics of automotive industry and its supply chain has catalysed the attention and the research effort of a wide international group of scholars as: the International Motor Vehicle Program (JMVP) of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Permanent Study Group for the Automobile Industry and Its Employees (GERPISA) of Paris, and the International Car Distribution l Programme (ICDP) of Solihull. This favoured the publication of relevant studies and the growth of networks of academicians and practitioners interested in studying the patterns of industry evolution and in organising meetings to present and discuss issues of common interest. In 1992 some members of these research projects decided to organize a first conference in Berlin dedicated to the main theme of automation and organization in the automobile industry. In 1993 a second conference took place in Tokyo, followed by a technical visit to a few automobile manufacturers and components suppliers plants (Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, etc.).

The evolution and execution of automotive manufacturing are explored in this fundamental manual. It is an excellent reference for entry level manufacturing engineers and also serves as a training guide for nonmanufacturing professionals. The book covers the major areas of vehicle assembly manufacturing and addresses common approaches and procedures of the development process. Having held positions as both a University Professor and as a Lead Engineering Specialist in industry, the author draws on his experience in both theory and application to fill the gap between academic research and industrial practices. This concisely written, comprehensive review discusses the sophisticated principles and concepts of automotive manufacturing from development to applications and includes: 250 illustrations and 90 tables. End-of-chapter review questions. Research topics for in-depth case studies, literature reviews, and/or course projects. Analytical problems for additional practice. Directly extracted and summarized from automotive manufacturing practices, this book serves as an essential manual. The subject is complemented by the author’s first book, Automotive Vehicle Assembly Processes and Operations Management, which provides even greater depth to the complex endeavor of modern automotive manufacturing.

This study looks at union responses to the changes in the Latin American car industry in the last 15 years. It considers the impact of the shift towards export production and regional integration, and the effect of political changes on union reponses.

. Topical . Written by leading Japanese, America, and European scholars . Based on proceedings of prestigious international conference Japan is now the world's largest producer of cars but it only began to catch up with its competitors after World War II by studying and modifying the Ford system of mass production implemented first in the USA in the early part of the century. Other countries have also developed the system in their own ways with varying degrees of success. The papers in this volume will examine and compare the experiences of different countries in modifying the Ford system, and the impact of the quality control movement' and lean production in Japan."

Canadians fell in love with the car at first glance. They were scared by it too, and by its potential. Canada was quick to become a car nation, as the automobile was enthusiastically adopted by Prairie grain farmers, the new modern woman, travellers to the north, and rough-and-tumble adventurers looking for a thrill by traversing the immense length of the country. The automobile was the symbol of the modern Canada of the twentieth century, and the final victory of technology over landscape. Canadians were building cars from the beginning. Independent firms and branches of the big American manufacturers vied for the lucrative Canadian market. Automaking has been an integral part of Canada's economy since the car's introduction. For more than a century, Canadians have lived with this automobile revolution, and all the consequences and permutations that it represents. Blending social, cultural and economic history, Dimitry Anastakis's engaging text tells the fascinating story of the car across Canada from earliest days, when cars and horses jockeyed for parking space, to the multilane freeways of the twenty-first century.

Analysing developments in digital technologies and institutional changes, this book provides an overview of the current frenetic state of transformation within the global automobile industry. An ongoing transition brought about by the relocation of marketing, design and production centres to emerging economies, and experimentation with new mobility systems such as electrical, autonomous vehicles, this process poses the question as to how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and newcomers can remain competitive and ensure sustainability. With contributions from specialists in the automobile sector, this collection examines the shifts in power and geographical location occurring in the industry, and outlines the key role that public policy has in generating innovation in entrepreneurial states. Offering useful insights into the challenges facing emerging economies in their attempts to grow within the automobile industry, this book will provide valuable reading for those researching internationalization and emerging markets, business strategy and more specifically, the automotive industry.

The motor vehicle industry is one of the world’s largest. More than 1 billion vehicles are in use around the world, and 80 million are produced and sold annually. Motor vehicles—including passenger cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles such as buses and taxis—are the principal means by which people and goods are transported within and among most communities in the world. This book details the history of the motor vehicle and of the leading carmakers. Inside, you’ll learn just how cars are made and sold; the leading suppliers of parts that go into a car; the increasing role of government in regulating vehicles; and future challenges for the industry. The motor vehicle industry includes corporations that design, develop, and manufacture cars and trucks. These carmakers, such as Ford and Toyota, are among the world’s most-familiar corporate brands. The motor vehicle industry also encompasses lesser-known businesses, including several thousand parts makers, tens of thousands of retailers, and specialized lending agencies. The importance of the motor vehicle industry transcends even its central role in the global economy. The industry was responsible for many of the fundamental innovations of 20th century production, such as corporate organization, manufacturing processes, and labor relations, as well as sales innovations including product branding and consumer financing. In the 21st century, the motor vehicle industry has been a leader in adopting new production strategies and expanding into new markets.