American manufacturer Ford continues to redefine automotive space with its innovative ideas. Henry Ford redefined manufacturing with the invention of the world’s first moving assembly line. Now, 101 years later Ford still continues its founder’s legacy, constantly dreaming up new approaches to design and build its cars, trucks and SUVs to ensure the highest quality for drivers around the world.
On the 101st anniversary of this iconic date, the company showcases four advances in quality manufacturing:
3D printing parts and gadgets
Through the use of 3D printing technology, Ford designs digital prototypes and tests them physically for a fraction of the time. This encourages greater creativity, pushing the boundaries of vehicle design. Here is a video about how that helps ensure quality of our new vehicles.
Using video game technology to design cars
By using virtual development tools like those used in the animation and gaming industries, Ford designers and engineers can test new design, styling and ergonomic options before cars enter the physical production phase. This accelerates the design process and enables Ford’s experts to collaborate across the world. Here is a video that shows how Ford uses virtual reality to design their vehicle.
Creating virtual factories
Using advanced 3D technology, Ford can rearrange and optimize its assembly lines virtually, leading to both improved production efficiency, and worker health and safety. Virtual manufacturing is estimated to have reduced manufacturing related issues across Ford’s global production network by 90% since 2002. Here is a video that shows an animation on virtual manufacturing.
Streamlining production across the globe:
By utilizing the abovementioned manufacturing and design innovations, Ford is able to build 16 cars every 60 seconds, each to the same Ford quality standard in 80 factories across 22 countries.
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