Honda unveils ‘revolutionary’ Cell Production assembly line system
Japanese car maker Honda has unveiled its new mass-production system this week, designed around what it calls a "flowing cell" layout.
Dubbed the Assembly Revolution Cell (ARC) line, the system is said to improve production efficiency, and has already been installed in Honda’s brand-new Prachinburi plant in Thailand.
The ARC line differs from more conventional production methods as it allows workers to fit a number of parts as they move down the line with the vehicle. With Honda’s ARC line, four workers step aboard the unit, all with a series of components that must be fitted.
In more traditional production line methods, a worker will often only fit a few parts to a car as it passes them on the conveyor.
The new system also gives workers a more in-depth knowledge of several processes and skills.
Honda Australia director, Stephen Collins, visited the plant in Thailand to check out the new system.
“The ARC assembly line perfectly demonstrates the cutting edge thinking of Honda’s engineering and manufacturing. Australia is the primary export market for the newly opened plant and the first model will be the bold new Civic, due to hit showrooms in June this year,” Mr Collins said.
The system will be used for the production of its tenth-generation Civic, due for release in Australia before the middle of this year.
There is no news about plans to utilise the technology in any other of its factories, however, Honda says it will “continue its efforts to increase the efficiency of production processes”.
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