Comments on: Toyota’s New Type of Flexible Assembly Lines—Takaoka Line #2 https://www.allaboutlean.com/toyota-flexible-assembly-line-2/ Organize your Industry! Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:56:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Christoph Roser https://www.allaboutlean.com/toyota-flexible-assembly-line-2/#comment-168715 Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:56:04 +0000 https://www.allaboutlean.com/?p=29106#comment-168715 Hi Federico,
This rule is very limiting, and I had problems with it before. An automotive supplier wanted to put their equipment on wheels for a small assembly cell. It was a lot of paperwork before the customer accepted that machines can be moved, but they got it done. It helped that they claimed this to be necessary for the regular cuts in the price.

In general, the customer (i.e. the OEM) should just approve that things can change within a certain framework. Outside OEM (and maybe the air and space industry), suppliers have much more freedom on how they make their stuff.

]]> By: Federico https://www.allaboutlean.com/toyota-flexible-assembly-line-2/#comment-168217 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:56:28 +0000 https://www.allaboutlean.com/?p=29106#comment-168217 Good Morning Mr. Roser,
How do you think the concepts of line modulation (and also other Lean concepts) fit in with the rules of the automotive world (IATF16949) which impose that, once the process has been approved by the customer, nothing can be changed?
Should there be several approvals, one for each possible combination of operators?
I believe this is not feasible both from an economic and a practical point of view.
Obviously OEMs and big players have fewer problems from this point of view but what about a “normal” suppliers?
How can flexibility of the line coexist with rigidity of the regulations?
In your article you talk about Bosh somehow managing it and I’m very curious to know how.
From my experience of Tier 1 Volkswagen group I don’t see many chances.
Thank you
Regards
Federico

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