The advanced cab models line of the KAMAZ truck production commenced a trial assembly of cabs for Compass vehicles.
The most experienced construction metal workers from Crews 711 and 721 jointly with technologists tested a new installation diagram. “The new site was equipped for assembly of the new truck cab within the shortest time period,” told Vladimir Araslanov, Chief of Department for Effectiveness Analysis of Assembly Operations. “The advanced cabs assembly line is more focused on continuous flow manufacturing and is very well equipped. It has all necessary devices to lift a cab, install windows, and screw up especially critical connections. Positions of each operation have already been bound.”
The first cab for the 12-tonne Compass was fixed on a hoisting unit to be equipped with heat and sound insulation, hydraulic lock, bottom cab parts from below, which marked the start of assembly. Then the assembly fitters attached support brackets, hand levers, windscreens and side windows. The door assembly created no problems as well. Special focus was on a dashboard. “For K4 and K5 KAMAZ trucks, it is assembled separately and then installed with the help of a manipulator,” explained Office Chief of Department for Effectiveness Analysis of Assembly Operations. “For Compasses, according to experts, a dashboard has to be assembled inside the cab. We do it on a separate position in order to study a process, but later, perhaps, we will assemble partly separately, partly inside the cab.”
The cab of the company’s new product features localized parts too. These are harnesses, switches, inverters, tachograph, the ERA-GLONASS system, exterior details. Before the year is out, the truck assembly plant will start receiving onboard information systems, interior details, windows, other components from Russian manufacturers.
The first three Compass cabs assembled at the conveyor will go to the company’s Research and Development Center for testing. The mechanical designers will in their turn make adjustments to the assembly process to fit it into the general conveyor operation cycle. It is expected to assemble 90 cabs per month at the next stage of mastering the new production. Compass vehicles will be produced in one flow with trucks of K4 and K5 generations.