![]() ![]() With the development of new materials and processes, additive manufacturing is emerging as a valuable tool to assist in production applications, and to act in support of mainstream production.įord currently has almost 100 additive manufacturing machines spread around 90 global locations. Though the technology was initially focused on the techniques of "rapid prototyping", additive manufacture and 3D printing are now being used for more than just the simple production of concept models. Precise amounts of material may be used in making each layer, and these layers - which often have extremely intricate and complex shapes - can be accurately designed using computers.ģD printing is the most widely recognized and accessible form of additive manufacturing - and Ford Motor Company has been a trend-setter in this field, since its acquisition of one of the earliest 3D printers back in 1988. This takes a toll not only on the environment, but also on the enterprise, as much of this waste material can't be reclaimed or reprocessed, and translates into lost revenue.Īdditive manufacturing eliminates this wastage by creating components out of layers of material, which are fused together to form a cohesive whole. Wasteful traditional methods of manufacture rely on cutting components out of native materials (steel, wood, etc.) - then throwing away the excess. (Image source: Ford Motor Company) Enhancing Production Through Additive Manufacturing With its new Advanced Manufacturing Center, the company looks to extend its tradition of innovation even further.Īs Joe Hinrichs, Ford's President of Global Operations puts it: "Today, we are reinventing tomorrow's assembly line - tapping technologies once only dreamed of on the big screen - to increase our manufacturing efficiency and quality." The Advanced Manufacturing Center has a workforce bolstered by over 100 manufacturing technology experts, and is home to a host of specialized equipment.įord was responsible for the innovation that heralded the Second Industrial Revolution: the creation of the first moving assembly line - a development which changed forever the way that vehicles would be mass-produced. The 135,000-square-foot facility was opened in the summer of 2018.įord's new facility is located in the manufacturing heartland of Redford, Michigan, and represents an investment of around $45 million. ![]() In an effort to accelerate manufacturing innovation, Ford Motor Company has brought advanced engineering expertise and technology together in a single location - an incubator for prototypes, before tested innovations can be rolled out to auto plants across the globe. Reinventing The Assembly Line For A Connected Future In the tradition of its founder whose visionary ambition was to “put the world on wheels,” teFord Motor Company has embraced this new reality, and created a hub for innovation in its brand-new Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC). Industry 4.0 represents a major shift in outlook and operations for all businesses involved in the manufacture of products, and its technology is being adopted by organizations across the globe. Through cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, cognitive computing, and other technologies, Industry 4.0 has been connecting machines to one another with digitally enabled technology, to create a more seamless manufacturing environment. The fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 is currently underway, and builds on those technological leaps. (Image source: Ford Motor Company) Industrial Evolutionįrom the initial development of machinery and processes, through to mass production, then the integration of computers and automation, the first three industrial revolutions pushed the boundaries of our manufacturing capabilities to new levels.
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