Chrysler Scanning Factories to Improve Efficiency

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will begin to scan its factories in 3d so that it can plan precisely for new vehicles in advance and build them more efficiently. Chrysler announced that it bought the technology to scan its factories on August 6, and the first products to benefit from the scanning will be the new eight-speed automatic transmission for rear-wheel drive vehicles and the new nine-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive vehicles. Both transmissions will be built at Chrysler's Kokomo, Indiana, factory. 

“We knew we needed a new way of working in order to get our plants in Kokomo ready at an accelerated pace. By using 3D technology, we are in effect injecting the principles of World Class Manufacturing from the very beginning of our planning for production startups such as the ones in Kokomo," said Chrysler Vice President Brian Harlow.

Chrysler's World Class Manufacturing plan aims to reduce accidents, waste breakdowns, waste of motion and inventories to zero. 

Harlow said that the 3d imaging allows engineers to see manufacturing as it actually is and order equipment later than currently so it is not sitting around unused. Engineers can layout equipment precisely in advance to make manufacturing as efficient as possible. 

“If there is a situation anywhere that compromises production, we can identify it up front in the process, something we ordinarily wouldn’t know until the first day of production. Now we can be proactive. We can change cycle times by moving content or by making changes with the machine tool builder," said Harlow.

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