6
Management Services Winter 2012
Regional News
Regional News
North West members visit Vauxhall Motors
Graham Bloomfi eld /
Shutterstock.com
On 12 September, members of the North West Region visited Vauxhall Motors at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire.
On arrival, we were given a history of the company, including its philosophy of manufacture and the importance of the four Ms – manpower, machines, materials and methods. Our fi rst port of call was the body shop which has 348 employees. Two handed production along the track lines enabled parts to be fi tted on both sides of the unit and workload balancing was evident throughout the manufacturing procedures.
The plant used lean manufacturing techniques with a fl ow line production of 44 units per hour observed, although the throughput speed could be substantially increased or decreased if required. The general assembly shop, with its 748 employees, included some impressive features. Practically every vehicle in sequence was different in type, model or colour, displaying a computerised planning system and manpower knowledge of exceptional capability! The human element was also utilised, for example, at the wheel fi tting station fi ve wheel nuts were preloaded into an hand held jig and loose fi tted to the wheel studs, prior to a machine screw fi t. The objective of lean manufacture is to produce on a ‘just in time’ basis and to minimise the time line from start to fi nish. The suppliers’ computing systems are linked with Vauxhall’s to enable a ‘real time‘ stock level requirement, giving space saving benefi ts as well as keeping down the cost of materials in stock. Because Vauxhall only build vehicles to order, and by agreement, any down time is paid for but must be reimbursed by extra working time, for example Saturday mornings, during periods of greater demand. An excellent tour of the manfacturing complex was concluded with a question and answer session in the in-house training room.
Harry Hogg
North West Concorde technical tour
A chance to see an icon of fl ight engineering history
Saturday 18 May 2013, The Runway Visitor Park, Altrincham WA15 8XQ
The only Concorde in the world with a fl ight deck technical tour. A low price of £15 each (subject to a minimum group of persons). Free parking is included. Meet at the Concorde reception at 2.45pm for 3pm start. From 11am onwards, visitors may enter the fully restored BEA Hawker Siddeley TRIDENT 3B (plus other aircraft to view).
This promises to be an extra special visit, especially for enthusiasts. Please give your full name well before the date which will be entered onto your personalised certifi cate to commemorate your visit. To confi rm your place, contact Len Price on 01204 840672 or email your full details to harry.hogg@
blueyonder.co.uk
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