subject: Conveyor Systems for the Modern Factory [print this page] Conveyor Systems for the Modern Factory Conveyor Systems for the Modern Factory
Today, with rapid industrialization, we have come to see changes in factory lay outs. These need to be fully automated to keep up with the huge demand for products. We shall concentrate on the manufacturing processes adopted in some of the best automobile factories in the world. Today, the assembly line is the pivotal part of the factory. The entire building is focused on this. One of the biggest innovations which have been used here is the moving assembly line. This is what makes the factory work faster and helps it produce more cars.
A moving assembly line is standard in any big automotive factory. The basic element here is the conveyor system. It may not be in the most simple of designs here because the scale is very large, but the concept of the conveyor system is used here. A conveyor system is a simple and involves the movement of materials such as components used for manufacturing, movement of cargo, products and people too. The most commonly seen conveyor system is the one we see in airports for baggage claim. It is an easy way to handle the hundreds of bags and cargo which come through an airport. A much more complicated system is used in an automobile factory. The entire assembly line itself is a moving conveyor belt. The cars are placed on it or they are held up by it. These two different types of manufacturing conveyor systems depend on the weight of the final product as well as the complexity of the car.
Usually, the most common one which is used is the one which is attached to the floor. The entire assembly line is moving at a very slow pace. This is controlled by conveyor belts. The process is a precision one and requires very precise engineering guide lines. One of the basic things that one has to understand here is that in some factories the system stops at the particular stations so that the technician can finish his work. At some places, they do not stop but move at a very slow pace. The technician has to do his work while he and the entire assembly line are in motion. Both have their own advantages as well as disadvantages. The conveyor system helps in increasing the speed of the assembly line. With this comes the risk of getting stuck with the work as everything has to work in clock work precision.
The conveyor systems are intelligent and they follow the progress of the assembly line. This means that if the work has not finished, they will stop for it until it finishes. This is a very good innovation which can avert disasters. The conveyor systems are also powered by very powerful engines so that they can push the equipment along with the machinery, tools and the workers. This is hard work and hence these systems require good maintenance. If they break down, the entire factory halts bringing losses to the tune of millions. These conveyor systems have become part and parcel of the automobile industry.
