Three-D simulations integrating work cells and robots lets designers produce correct layouts before "big iron" hits the floor. In a world of multinational competition, two success factors for automobile manufacturers are agility and flexibility. A plant that once produced a single model can't afford specialization anymore. An auto assembly plant has to be flexible enough to produce everything from an economy-sized compact car to a full-sized SUV and be agile enough to make changes when needed. Affordability and efficiency are other ingredients in assembly success. A manufacturer must build multiple vehicles at the same plant in much higher densities than in the past. Flexible assembly plants have higher capacity utilization, a critical element in generating higher earnings and reducing capital costs, according to the 2006 Harbour Report.
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