Video: Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

[RichieRichLancair]

7 minute video on the most technologically, automated plant in North America.
The Hyundai Sonata plant in Montgomery Alabama.

http://www.history.com/media.do?id=mm_assemblylines_broadband&action=clip

History channel. 2 billion dollar Hyundai investment.

(Notice how quiet this plant is)

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

Reminds me of the VW Phaeton plant in Germany. That was supposed to be the most automated plant.

It was more to showcase German technology than to actually build a car. It was cool. The floor would split open and the robot would come out and work on the car then disappear and the floor would close up. Looked really cool.

Found these photos.

http://thisspaceblank.blogspot.com/2007/02/vw-phaeton-factory.html

 

[BaywayRic]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

7 minute video on the most technologically, automated plant in North America.

Any doubt now these guys know exactly where every hunk of iron is until you drive it off the lot. They're just not telling the field sales guys, or customer support.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

At the moment, I just don't have the connection to view the video. I'll have to check it out later..

 

[jwaters943]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

Very cool! Thanks for sharing this.

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

I don't know if you noticed, but any line worker can stop the line. The supervisors encourage it.

The supervisors were saying that they wanted the problem fixed. This is a 180 degree shift from the "Get the numbers out the door" era. This is revolutionary thinking for assembly line managment. Hyundai really got it right.

Just 5 years ago GM would run 5 to 8 shifts of scrap because they had to hit their numbers and no one wanted to take the hit for stopping the line to fix a problem.

This is a wake up call for GM, Ford and Chrysler.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

I don't know if you noticed, but any line worker can stop the line. The supervisors encourage it.

The supervisors were saying that they wanted the problem fixed. This is a 180 degree shift from the "Get the numbers out the door" era. This is revolutionary thinking for assembly line managment. Hyundai really got it right.

Just 5 years ago GM would run 5 to 8 shifts of scrap because they had to hit their numbers and no one wanted to take the hit for stopping the line to fix a problem.

This is a wake up call for GM, Ford and Chrysler.

Sounds like Hyundai is attempting to follow Lexus in this regards...

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: Video:Hyundai's Montgomery Alabama's Sonata Plant

Any doubt now these guys know exactly where every hunk of iron is until you drive it off the lot. They're just not telling the field sales guys, or customer support.

Good point.

Spend billions on building a car and then lose track of it.

Absolutely, no way.

 

[GrandPrix08]

Interesting vid. Thanx for sharing.