Back from Audi, etc...(LONG)

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <D13BD3B69401D211B31000A0C9CE055B0810A6@sjmc0e001.mitsui.com> "Daily,DerekSJMCG" writes:

> Most interesting thing learned from the tour.  Audi basically custom makes
> every single car.  Even body styles, drive-line and paint are altered for
> every single car.  At the start of each line the computer determines which
> model and options will follow.  (As we toured the A4 lines, this will be
> used as the example).  I.e. Car #1 is an S4 Avant, next car is an A4 1.6 fwd
> sedan.  At each step of the process the computer determines what the model
> and trim options are and re-tools itself to add the correct components.  Not
> exactly the Ford model here (although I'm sure they've updated as well.)  It
> was strange to see what almost seem like random bodies and drivelines in the
> production line.  It was almost like the computer was thinking...lets just
> build it THIS way for the hell of it!  Red S4 sedan, cream fwd TAXI, 1.8tq
> Avant, etc...  Also cool was the departure board in the visitor lounge
> annoucing when Herrn. Schmidt's car was ready to be driven out the electric
> door.  Amazing!

I hate to bust any bubbles - but Ford of Europe was doing this in 1973!

I know, because I wrote some of the computer code that helped them do
it - basically the process took orders and "knocked them down" into
options, subassemblies and then components - right down to nuts, bolts
and washers.  Each part was tagged and brought to the line for "its"
car.   The next three cars are for Saudi Arabia?  Three gear knobs with
Arabic script ... one's a Lotus Cortina?  One knob has a Lotus logo and
Arabic script.  BTDT.

A quarter of a century ago.

--
 Phil Payne
 Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 01536 723021
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