Automotive | Automation | Crane Systems | by Christie Lagowski | 06 Apr 2021
In automobile manufacturing, time is money. Every minute saved in the process can move another vehicle off the line and into the market. To increase efficiency and reduce process time, a high production automobile manufacturer needed to reduce the takt time for the engine and transmission marriage process. Specifically, the manufacturer was using a manual marriage cell where several processes had to be performed by a single operator. This included picking hardware, selecting traverse time, marrying two heavy components (an engine and a transmission), and installing a wiring harness and attachment hardware.
The total time needed to do this was 58 seconds — 42 of which were traverse and hardware selection time, while the other 16 seconds were used to install the wiring harness and fasten four bolts. This 58-second takt time was the controlling factor in daily output numbers, which totaled just over 60 jobs per hour, and was unacceptable in this high-production environment.
The manufacturer needed to get total vehicle takt time down to 48 seconds. As an added challenge, the new system also had to ensure the correct engine was selected for the incoming transmission and feature sway control technology to provide safe engine transfer to the marriage cell. Together, these requirements were no easy task.
To meet all the automobile manufacturer’s needs, Columbus McKinnon determined an auto-dispatch system would be the best option to not only reduce takt time but provide the precision control and safety the application required.
Utilizing drives, motors, and automation programming, an auto-dispatch system allows operators to program locations into a PLC or controller, then automatically send the load to different areas within the facility with the push of a button. While the crane is moving on its own, the operator can work on a different task or start on the next step of the production process. These systems can be configured to include multiple locations, depending on application needs.
For this application, two automated cranes were provided to meet the manufacturer’s requirements for 100% uptime. The auto-dispatch system provided:
The auto-dispatch system transformed the manufacturer’s engine marriage crane system into an efficient and safe solution. Process takt time of 58 seconds was reduced to 22 seconds by significantly trimming the time needed to traverse the engine to the cell and safely return it to the work area. Also, the process control PC provided automatic recipe selection and interfaced with other area controllers, helping to ensure correct engine and transmission selection, smooth operation, and quality control.
With the significant time savings, the operator could complete the required task quicker than ever, reducing the production line’s overall takt time, paving the way from 60 jobs per hour to upwards of 72 jobs per hour!
The ProPath Automated Workstation Crane combines our industry-leading Enclosed Track Aluminum (ETA) Rail with “smart” material handling solutions in a unique package to increase the safety, productivity, and uptime of your facility. You can customize each system to match application needs, choosing from an extensive portfolio of crane solutions products, such as variable frequency drives, powered chain and wire rope hoists, radio remote controls, articulating arms, vertical reaction lifters, and much more.
Combining radios, drives, motors, brakes, and automation programming, Intelli-Guide Auto-Dispatch technology allows operators to automatically send a load to different pre-programmed areas in a facility with the push of a button. Then, as the load moves to the programmed destination along a determined route, the operator can work on a different task or start on the next step of the production process, increasing productivity and efficiency.
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