High-tech machines for high-quality products<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
All automakers want to give their customers the best quality they
\ncan afford and nowadays that can only be achieved by using the
\nlatest technology and modern equipment, which means robots.<\/p>\n
Robots can create good quality products and can work long
\nhours in environments dangerous to humans, reducing the costs and
\nrisks for human workers.<\/p>\n
While several automakers still rely mostly on handmade
\nproduction they are only producing for high-end, niche market
\ncustomers who compromise on nothing and demand the highest
\nquality money can buy.<\/p>\n
To show how it made high-quality affordable cars, Honda
\nProspect Motor (HPM) recently demonstrated its sophisticated
\nwelding and painting equipment at its plant in Karawang, West
\nJava.<\/p>\n
\"With the production facilities that we now run in the
\nfactory, we are sure we can reach our management goal of becoming
\na company that is customer-oriented producing high-quality status
\ncars,\" PT HPM president Kenji Otaka said.<\/p>\n
The automatic and highly accurate general welding machine is
\nnow used to assemble the Honda CR-V sports utility vehicle (SUV)
\nand Honda Jazz mini multipurpose vehicle (MPV).<\/p>\n
A computerized, automatic spraying machine is used for all
\nmodels assembled at the Karawang plant.<\/p>\n
Quality-wise, PT HPM vice-president for production Nobuo
\nTakeichi said the general welder and automatic spray machines
\ncould produce a finish more-or-less equal to skilled workers'
\nefforts.<\/p>\n
\"Yet, the likelihood of human error has decreased
\nsignificantly but production remains stable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nobuo said the use of such equipment was the response to
\nmarket demand, not only for quality but also prompt delivery.<\/p>\n
The company has trained 10 technicians as general welders and
\nanother six for the automatic spraying machine.<\/p>\n
\"We are also planning to invite instructors from Japan to
\nprovide supplementary training so the technicians here can reach
\na higher level of expertise,\" said PT HPM frame and engine
\ngeneral manager, Yosanto.<\/p>\n
PT HPM's plant in Karawang was built with an investment of
\nUS$70 million, and employs about 2,300 workers. It has a total
\narea of 80,000 square meters built on a 500,000 sqm plot of land.<\/p>\n
The factory produced 13,000 vehicles last year and has reached
\n34,000 units so far this year. Working in two shifts, it has a
\ncapacity of producing 45,000 vehicles a year, expected to be
\nreached in 2005.<\/p>\n
The vehicles are constantly checked during welding, painting
\nand assembly, and there is a another general inspection after
\nassembly is completed.<\/p>\n
Wheel alignment, headlights, skidding performance, underbody
\nsoundness, hand brakes and speedometers are checked during this
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
The factory also has a 1,560-meter test course said to be the
\nlargest in the country.<\/p>\n
A new car has to pass a 10-meter water pool 40 centimeters
\ndeep before going into the water leak test where it is sprayed
\nwith water for five minutes. There is also an Antilock Breaking
\nSystem check and a slalom to test handling and steering.<\/p>\n
After final inspection, the car is ready to be delivered.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/high-tech-machines-for-high-quality-products-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }