Toyota's evolving production sites combine digital tools with expert craftsmanship. We took a look at initiatives that aim to change the future of cars.
This time, Toyota Times News features the Toyota Monozukuri Workshop held in September at three Aichi plants: Teiho and Motomachi (in Toyota City) and Myochi (in Miyoshi City).
What sort of initiatives are moving forward at the forefront of monozukuri to change the future of cars?
Yuta Tomikawa first visited the Motomachi Plant. Here, he learned about kaizen in the mixed model production line, where cars with different body types and motor power are produced together, and the vehicle logistics robot that will be part of the solution to Japan’s 2024 logistics problem.
On the assembly line for next-generation BEVs, cars with their motors and tires attached drive themselves down the assembly line. Through synergy with new module construction, they hope to halve production time. Assembly with self-propelled cars and robots is going to change the landscape of plants.
As seen at the Technical Workshop, Myochi Plant is home to giga casting. The skills of many craftspeople live on in this casting technology that is expected to vastly improve productivity.
At Teiho Plant, a report on how digital tools help transfer skills and how karakuri is being used in production.
The equipment and facilities introduced in the video were developed by genba workers who studied digital tools and built new solutions themselves and as a team.
The Start Up Studio at Teiho Plant is a new facility that supports carmaking with the venture spirit of creating new equipment and manufacturing methods.
Although each plant has a different role, what they all have in common is the passion and smiles of their engineers. Finally, a chat with CPO (Chief Production Officer) Kazuaki Shingo, who is behind the workshop, to talk about his aims with monozukuri.