Innovative Smartphone App Saves Ford Factory Workers Daily 1-Kilometer Walk, Enhances Quality and Efficiency
10 Fevereiro 2016 - 07:00AM
Business Wire
- Ford develops smartphone app that
enables workers to make instant on-the-spot checks, stop the line
as required, improves accuracy and efficiency
- New wrist-worn Portable Quality
Assurance Device saves production line workers from walking more
than one kilometer daily, replaces paper-based system that relied
on a desktop PC
- Ford looks to roll-out wearable device
– which simplifies increasingly complex manufacturing process – to
other plants after successful pilot project in Valencia, Spain
- Ford this year opened the Automotive
Wearables Experience lab at its Research and Innovation Center in
Dearborn
More than a century after Henry Ford started the first moving
assembly line, Ford Motor Company is bringing his pioneering
invention into the smartphone age.
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Ford Motor Company has developed a
smartphone app that enables factory workers to make instant,
on-the-spot checks, stop the line as required and improve accuracy
and efficiency. (Photo: Business Wire)
Ford has developed a wearable device, which connected to a
smartphone app, enables production line workers to make faster and
more accurate quality checks on new vehicles.
Previously, workers at Ford’s manufacturing facility in
Valencia, Spain, used a paper-based system that involved walking
back and forth more than one kilometer daily to access information
on desktop PCs. Now, a new Android app means specification and
quality checks can be made on the spot using a wrist-worn Portable
Quality Assurance Device – believed to be an industry-first – and
the moving assembly line can be stopped immediately as needed.
“We have varied options and features across our vehicle range
and digital innovation in our plants helps to generate lean methods
within the manufacturing process,” said Linda Cash, vice president,
Manufacturing, Ford of Europe. “The ability to simply consult a
smartphone screen to check any aspect of a vehicle’s quality and
specification helps to guarantee highest levels of product quality,
and improves work processes and manufacturing efficiency.”
The Bluetooth-enabled device recognizes the exact quality
inspection requirements for each vehicle that passes along the
assembly line. These are displayed on the touchscreen of the
wrist-worn device, and team members are then able to instantly
follow up and approve. The new system has helped to reduce human
error by 7 percent while at the same time making each vehicle check
seven seconds quicker. In Valencia alone, where the number of
vehicles produced this year is expected to exceed 400,000 units,
this represents a substantial time saving that allows additional
quality inspections.
Ford builds six nameplates and even more body styles in Valencia
that include hundreds of different vehicle specifications. These
include the Mondeo sedan, the Mondeo Vignale, Kuga SUV, Transit
Connect light commercial vehicle, Tourneo Connect people-mover,
all-new S-MAX multi-activity vehicle, and Galaxy seven-seat
people-mover. The company recently announced it is completing the
final part of a €2.3 billion investment in manufacturing operations
in Valencia, transforming the facility into one of the world’s most
advanced, flexible and productive auto plants.
Ford production manager Ramón García proposed the wearable
device connected to a smartphone app to the plant’s management team
after observing his colleagues and family increasingly using
smartphone and tablet apps on lunch breaks and at home. Ford, in
partnership with local software company Visia Solutions S.L,
developed the Android-powered app.
“Smart mobile technology increasingly helps my colleagues and my
family organize our personal lives. It struck me that we could
apply similar technology to the workplace – and improve the
automotive production process,” García said. “This technology helps
us to better handle the increased complexity of more vehicles and
more vehicle specifications being produced on a single assembly
line.
“The initial feedback from production line workers has been very
positive and we are actively looking at other areas in the process
where we could deploy digital innovation and further increase
quality and efficiency,” García said.
Following a successful pilot project, Ford is now looking into
rolling out the Portable Quality Assurance Devices to other
plants.
As more consumers embrace wearable devices such as smart
watches, glasses and fitness trackers, Ford this year opened the
Automotive Wearables Experience lab at its Research and Innovation
Center in Dearborn. Here, scientists and engineers are working to
integrate wearable devices and vehicles to enable driver-assist
technologies to be more aware of the driver behind the wheel –
particularly when that driver is stressed or sleepy.
Valencia also is among Ford facilities in Europe that has
introduced an advanced wi-fi network for the flexible installation
to vehicles on production lines of the software required for
voice-activated connectivity system SYNC 2. This enables assembly
workers to download vehicle-specific language and navigation packs
as required for each vehicle.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Mich. With about 199,000 employees and 67 plants
worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing financing and servicing a full line of
Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as
Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively
pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the
company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous
vehicles, the customer experience and data and analytics. For more
information regarding Ford, its products worldwide or Ford Motor
Credit Company, visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and
servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs
approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and
approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated
businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company,
Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and
24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint
venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities).
The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year
Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in
1911.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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Ford Motor CompanyKelli
Felker313.322.1790kfelker1@ford.comorLloryn
Love313.303.9570llove22@ford.com
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