Chrysler Uses Robots For Competitive Edge

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A Chrysler Group executive today showed an industry audience at the 40th annual Management Briefing Seminars how his company is defining the leading edge of manufacturing flexibility. Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group's Executive Vice President - Manufacturing, focused on robotics as the key link in a chain of manufacturing flexibility that includes stamping, lean die standards, flexible body shops, paint shops, work stations and work agreements.

Ewasyshyn called flexible robotics a strategy born out of a shared vision with suppliers ABB Inc., Comau Pico and KUKA Robotics Corp., but also one that was "home grown" with all of the prototype work being done inside Chrysler Group.

Ewasyshyn noted that over the last 10 years, incremental improvements in robot "hardware" have evolved in such a way that they are allowing Chrysler Group to leverage the technology as never before. He cited three developments in particular as key to enabling flexible robotics:

First, robots have gained significantly higher load ranges.

Second, as computers have increased in capability, the power of industrial controllers has also significantly increased.

Third -- following the path of most technology today -- they've significantly gone down in cost.

"In the end," concluded Ewasyshyn, "we see our flexible robotics initiative as a prime driver of cost reduction, productivity improvement and market responsiveness.

Chrysler Group Unveils Future Manufacturing Strategy - Auto News from August 2, 2005