Search Results (10)

Lean manufacturing focuses on perfection, trying to eliminate all types of Muda (waste), Mura (inconsistency), Muri (overburden), defects, injuries, and accidents through a continuous improvement process. Assembly lines are the final stages of manufacturing before the product is delivered to customers. Kata methodology provides a practical approach to achieving perfection in assembly lines, but its effectiveness is often hindered by delays in data collection, analysis, and diagnostics. In this study, we address these challenges by leveraging industrial internet of things (IIoT) solutions in an industrial setting. The research question of this paper is as follows: “Why was the full potential of traditional Kata to achieve assembly line perfection not realized, and will IIoT-integrated Kata address the limitations of the traditional Kata?” We demonstrate the integration of IIoT and Kata methodology in a factory assembling automobile heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to enhance assembly line productivity. We observe that the integration of IIoT with Kata methodology not only addresses existing limitations but drives substantial gains in assembly line performance. We validate improvements in both productivity and efficiency through quantitative and qualitative outcomes. We underscore the pivotal role of real-time data for Kata’s effectiveness, discuss the process for digital transformation, and explain the need for data monetization. We recommend the development of an IIoT-savvy workforce, traceability of 4M (men, method, materials, and machine), and present the task scorecards and dashboards for real-time monitoring and decision-making. We highlight the positive impact of IIoT-enabled traceability on overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The company reduced its workforce from 15 to 13 operators, increased OEE from 75% to 85%, and improved average throughput from 60 to 90 assemblies per hour. The time for traceability of 4M (men, machines, material, and method) was reduced from hours to minutes. The factory eliminated 350 paper documents to achieve a paperless shop floor. This real-world case study serves as a model for companies looking to transition from traditional continuous improvement processes to IIoT-supported lean manufacturing. Full article

Based on the interactive integration between smart cities and intelligent transportation, this paper discusses how traditional automobile companies achieve intelligent-connected transformation and how to promote the development of intelligent connected vehicles. First, we construct a tripartite evolutionary game model of traditional automobile companies, internet companies, and financial institutions under the dual-credit policy. Second, we define an ideal event and analyze the impacts of cost factors, market factors, and policy factors on system evolution. Finally, funding time delay is combined with the evolutionary game analysis. Results indicate that: (1) Compared with traditional automobile companies and internet companies, financial institutions are more sensitive to the profit-sharing coefficient and cost-sharing coefficient; (2) The probability of an ideal event is more sensitive to credit trading price than new energy vehicle (NEV) credit accounting coefficients and the NEV credit ratio requirement; (3) The government should fully consider the linkage between policy factors and market factors, and it is unreasonable for the government to consider the range of any factor alone; (4) Both the financing amount and regulatory cost have specific threshold ranges within which tripartite collaboration can be facilitated. Full article

The automobile industry is recognized as one of the most influential sectors shaping global economies, societies, and individual lifestyles. Therefore, fierce competition among different companies is continuously undergoing, and special attention is focused on innovations to improve competitiveness. In the past several years, additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as an innovative technology in applications in the automobile industry with significant advantages over traditional techniques. As a result, increasing efforts have been paid to combining AM technology with the development of the automobile industry. Currently, many automobile players are optimizing their industrial layout by incorporating innovative AM techniques, and meanwhile, a lot of research progress has been achieved in order to meet the market demand. This article aims at presenting a timely review to conclude the recent advances in the application of AM techniques in the automobile industry, focusing on the available AM techniques, printable materials, and industry applications, based on which the advantages and disadvantages of each technique and material system are discussed in order to reveal the current application situation. The current research gaps and challenges are also outlined to indicate future research opportunities. Hopefully, this work can be useful to related researchers as well as game players in the industry of this field. Full article

The dual-credit policy promotes green transition in automobile companies. This paper investigates the dual-credit policy framework in the Chinese automotive industry, with a focus on the phenomenon of free riding. This occurs when traditional vehicle manufacturers within an alliance benefit from the excess credits generated by a transitioning vehicle company without fully committing to their own green transitioning. The focus of this study lies on an alliance constituted by a transitioning vehicle company in partnership with two traditional vehicle manufacturers, all interconnected via equity ties. Utilizing an agent-based system dynamics model, this study explores the strategic behaviors emerging from such credit collaborations and their consequent effects on operational efficiency and financial performance. The findings reveal that 1. free riding negatively impacts the transitioning company’s revenue but benefits the alliance by easing transition pressures and boosting collective performance; 2. stricter policies increase intra-alliance credit transfers and performance, while lower credit prices reduce transfer value and harm the transitioning company’s earnings. This study implies that transitioning vehicle companies with equity-linked partners can benefit from a nuanced understanding of how policy mechanisms interact with alliance dynamics under free riding. By adjusting credit transfer strategies in line with market conditions and policy trends, they can better navigate the dual-credit policy landscape, balancing individual profitability with the needs of the broader alliance and long-term sustainability goals. Full article

This article discusses the problems that arise and must be resolved in order to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of Chinese-brand automobile assembly in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is shown as a model of an oil-driven economy seeking industrial modernization and the most dynamic car assembly case in Central Asia in the past 5 years. Since the automotive industry development strategies in different countries have various specific characteristics and provide an overview of the main global and regional trends in the development of the automotive industry, the problems of industry development also leverage the accumulated experiences of different countries where government initiatives have fostered the growth of their domestic automotive industry. Although we use standard and well-proven methods of analysis, planning, and forecasting, the novelty of the approach lies in the fact that any new company entering the market and opening a new production facility should focus on maintaining the sustainability of the country’s automotive industry within the framework of the adopted industry development strategy. We have developed such an algorithm for planning a strategy. The blend of traditional methodologies and their adaptation makes the suggested methodology new. We also considered the fact that, due to a lack of knowledge, there are significant challenges when determining whether localizing automobile components is feasible. An assessment of the prospects for the automotive industry in Kazakhstan based on data from open sourcesmade it possible to develop options for possible strategies from which the most appropriate one can be selected. The conclusion chapter presents findings, limitations of the study, and directions for future research. The use of this approach allows for considering the interplay of the factors at the stage of an industry development strategy emerging and establishing long-term plans that take into account the specific characteristics of Kazakhstan’s development. Full article

Under the background of the digital economy, manufacturing seeks to improve green manufacturing and the level of greenness of products through digital empowerment. However, there exists a certain degree of technical difficulty and cost pressures for independent transformation to enhance green innovation performance through digitalization. How to conduct crossover cooperation with Internet enterprises needs to be explored. Taking automobile manufacturing enterprises as the case background, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model of green innovation crossover cooperation between traditional automobile manufacturing and Internet enterprises in the context of carbon credit policy. From the perspective of the extra effort cost of manufacturing enterprises and the excess income of Internet enterprises, this paper analyzes the mode selection strategy of green innovation crossover cooperation between the two types of subjects, and also analyzes the crossover cooperation mechanism of green innovation from three aspects: income distribution mechanism, carbon credit trading mechanism, and R&D subsidy mechanism. The results show that (1) Reducing the cost of digital green innovation transformation in manufacturing and the excess returns obtained under the free-riding behavior of Internet enterprises will help promote in-depth cooperation among crossover entities. (2) The benefit distribution dominated by manufacturing enterprises is helpful to evolve toward the direction of the alliance cooperative innovation mode and improve the benefits of green innovation cooperation. (3) Under the government’s single weak intervention management mechanism, optimizing carbon credit accounting and assessment standards can effectively guide manufacturers and Internet companies to conduct alliance green innovation cooperation, but they still need to be matched with appropriate R&D subsidies to form a compound strong intervention guidance mechanism to obtain higher social and ecological benefits. Full article

To achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, decarbonization targets for the global automotive industry are required. We assess the quantity of light-duty vehicles (LDVs) with internal combustion engines (ICEs) that can be manufactured within the identified carbon budget and compare it with the current sales plans of the four largest automobile manufacturers—Volkswagen, General Motors, Toyota, and Hyundai/Kia—as representative of traditional car manufacturers. We first describe the quantification of a carbon budget for LDVs under the 1.5 °C target and a methodology for calculating the market shares that will allow different drive-train technologies to stay within it. The global LDV market for new sales and historic and future vehicle retirement rates are presented, together with assumptions for car usage (in passenger kilometres per year) and fuel efficiencies. We calculate the quantity of ICE LDVs that can be sold before the manufacture of ICEs must cease globally. We then compare this upper global limit with the current sales plans of car companies. The plans of the four manufacturers differ, but all considerably exceed the number of ICE vehicle sales required to meet the 1.5 °C target. This analysis does not forecast the development of the global LDV market, but assesses the gap between manufacturers’ intention and the requirement under a 1.5 °C pathway. Full article

Developments in multimedia and mobile communication technologies and in mobilized, personalized information security has benefitted various sectors of society, as traditional identification technologies are often complicated. In response to the sharing economy and the intellectualization of automotive electronics, major automobile companies are using biometric recognition to enhance the safety, uniqueness, and convenience of their vehicles. This study uses a deep learning-based finger-vein identification system for carputer systems. The proposed enhancement edge detection adapts to the detected fingers’ rotational and translational movements and to interference from external light and other environmental factors. This study also determines the effect of preprocessing methods on the system’s effectiveness. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system allows more accurate identification of 99.1% and 98.1% in various environments, using the FV-USM and SDUMLA-HMT public datasets. As results, the contribution of system is high accuracy and stability for more sanitary, contactless applications makes it eminently suited for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

Electric vehicles have many advantages compared with traditional fuel vehicles, whereas the immaturity of technologies and high manufacturing cost make it difficult for EV brands to be promoted in traditional business models. Thus, auto-mobile companies started to establish high-end sales business model to promote the brand. This paper studies the influential mechanism of high-end EV sales business model on brand competitiveness and the mediation effect between high-end EV sales business model and brand competitiveness. A total of 624 consumers’ survey data were collected and the structural equation model (SEM) was analyzed to test the hypotheses by using a scale made up of indicators referring to high-end EV sales business model, brand competitiveness and customer perceived value. This paper contributes to the sustainable innovation literature by exploring the psychological perception of customer perceived value in strengthening brand competitiveness. The results show that both the value proposition and value creation of high-end EV sales business model have significant positive impacts on brand competitiveness. Moreover, customer perceived value fully mediates the relationships between the value proposition of high-end EV sales business model and brand competitiveness and between the value creation and brand competitiveness. Customer perceived value cannot mediate the relationship between the value capture of high-end EV sales business model and brand competitiveness. Our insights contribute to the business model research area from a customer-centric perspective. Full article

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Korean industrial environment has been rapidly changing. As a result, several industries are facing different innovation conditions, including: the automotive industry, which is a traditional manufacturing industry in Korea; the aerospace industry, which has been vertically integrated, and has been led by a single large company—Korea Aerospace Industries—since Korea went through an economic crisis in the 1990s; and the robotics industry, which is currently emerging. This study used parameters related to patents originating from the automobile, robotics, and aerospace fields. The patents subjected to analysis were those registered in Korea from 2001 to 2014, and included those that were applied for, jointly applied for, or registered by Korean companies. This study analyzed the differences caused by the effect of open innovation in the three industries. According to our results, first, the three industries experienced different effects of open innovation. Second, when large companies controlled a given industry, open innovation either worked a little or did not work at all. According to this research result, the Korean robotics industry, which has a weak dominance of large companies, experienced a strong effect of open innovation, in that joint patent applications led to economic gains from the patents and an increase in technology transfer and technology value. The aerospace industry of Korea, which has the highest dominance of large companies, experienced a slight effect of open innovation, as the effect of joint patent application only improved the technology value. Finally, the automotive industry of Korea had an intermediate level of open innovation, between the aerospace and robotics sectors. Full article