10/11/2011 1:29:00 AM
NEWS BRIEFS
Ford Upgrades Fastener Tooling for New Pickup
Simphiwe Mthombeni, QLS Campaign Administrator, conducts evaluation with new DC Tooling equipment.
Ford Motor Co. of Southern Africa (FMCSA), working with the Global VOME department, recently installed technologically advanced DC Tooling equipment in its Silverton assembly facility to streamline production of the new Ranger, the company reports.
Manufactured by Stanley Assembly Technologies, DC Tooling is a device prized by automotive OEMs for its reliability in detecting safety or quality issues during vehicle production.
Specifically, the equipment immediately detects any errors such as cross threading, under and over torque, stripping, yielding, missed operation, and re-hits, according to FMCSA. If the DC Tooling should discover any manufacturing faults the entire production line will automatically stop and provide detailed error information.
In the past, joints were fastened with pneumatic torque controlled tools and not error proofed due to the limited capability of the tools used. Datamyte surveillance equipment then was used off line to monitor performance.
“We believe the introduction of DC Tooling into our assembly plant will continue Ford’s global efforts to enhance the safety and quality of its vehicles,” said Tim Day, FMCSA lean manufacturing manager.
“Each and every Ranger that comes off the line will experience hundreds of end-of-line evaluations that are tracked through Ford’s Quality Leadership (QLS) System which gives anyone in the assembly plant the ability to flag a vehicle as having an open concern and keeps that vehicle from leaving the plant until it’s been fixed.”
The Silverton is eager to catch up on the two Chinese plants currently ahead of the Pretoria facility when it comes to the number of problems reported by Ford customers, according to Engineering News.
Ford reportedly has seven new plants under construction in Asia.
Silverton’s capacity reportedly has been increased to more than 100 000 units in a R3.4-billion investment. Up to 10% of production will be the new Mazda BT-50, with the remaining capacity dedicated to the Ranger — nearly three-quarters of which will be exported to 148 countries,.
Other improvements have been added at the Silverton facility to complement the tooling technology, including a semi-automated wheel assembly facility capable of assembling a wheel every 15 seconds. In addition, more than 140 Assembly Information Systems (AIS) were installed throughout the plant to assist with the error proofing and in-station process controls.
“The manufacturing group is excited and thankful for the funding we received to install all these technologies and assembly aids that will enable us to manufacture world class quality vehicles,” said Day.
“We are confident this incredibly beneficial device will solidify Silverton assembly plant as a global production leader and launch the all-new Ranger with much success after its launch later this year,” he added.
Ford Asia Pacific and Africa president Joe Hinrichs told Engineering News that the reasons South Africa was chosen as a production facility include the country’s free trade agreement (FTA) with Europe, which allows for duty-free imports of the Ranger from South Africa.
At the same time, Ford’s Thailand plant is at capacity.
“We also see significant opportunity for growth in Africa over the next 10 to 20 years,” says Hinrichs. ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com
Ford Motor Co. of Southern Africa (FMCSA), working with the Global VOME department, recently installed technologically advanced DC Tooling equipment in its Silverton assembly facility to streamline production of the new Ranger, the company reports.
Manufactured by Stanley Assembly Technologies, DC Tooling is a device prized by automotive OEMs for its reliability in detecting safety or quality issues during vehicle production.
Specifically, the equipment immediately detects any errors such as cross threading, under and over torque, stripping, yielding, missed operation, and re-hits, according to FMCSA. If the DC Tooling should discover any manufacturing faults the entire production line will automatically stop and provide detailed error information.
In the past, joints were fastened with pneumatic torque controlled tools and not error proofed due to the limited capability of the tools used. Datamyte surveillance equipment then was used off line to monitor performance.
“We believe the introduction of DC Tooling into our assembly plant will continue Ford’s global efforts to enhance the safety and quality of its vehicles,” said Tim Day, FMCSA lean manufacturing manager.
“Each and every Ranger that comes off the line will experience hundreds of end-of-line evaluations that are tracked through Ford’s Quality Leadership (QLS) System which gives anyone in the assembly plant the ability to flag a vehicle as having an open concern and keeps that vehicle from leaving the plant until it’s been fixed.”
The Silverton facility is eager to catch up on the two Chinese plants currently ahead of the Pretoria facility when it comes to the number of problems reported by Ford customers, according to Engineering News.
Ford reportedly has seven new plants under construction in Asia.
Silverton’s capacity reportedly has been increased to more than 100 000 units in a R3.4-billion investment. Up to 10% of production will be the new Mazda BT-50, with the remaining capacity dedicated to the Ranger — nearly three-quarters of which will be exported to 148 countries.
Other improvements have been added at the Silverton facility to complement the tooling technology, including a semi-automated wheel assembly facility capable of assembling a wheel every 15 seconds. In addition, more than 140 Assembly Information Systems (AIS) were installed throughout the plant to assist with the error proofing and in-station process controls.
“The manufacturing group is excited and thankful for the funding we received to install all these technologies and assembly aids that will enable us to manufacture world class quality vehicles,” said Day.
“We are confident this incredibly beneficial device will solidify Silverton assembly plant as a global production leader and launch the all-new Ranger with much success after its launch later this year.”
Ford Asia Pacific and Africa president Joe Hinrichs told Engineering News that the reasons South Africa was chosen as a production facility include the country’s free trade agreement (FTA) with Europe, which allows for duty-free imports of the Ranger from South Africa.
At the same time, Ford’s Thailand plant is at capacity.
“We also see significant opportunity for growth in Africa over the next 10 to 20 years,” says Hinrichs. ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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