The advanced cab assembly line is to be modernized at the automobile plant of KAMAZ.
In a year, this conveyor will start assembling the first samples for the latest KAMAZ-54901. New equipment will be upgraded and installed fr om 2018 as quickly as possible without stopping the conveyor. The assembly rate will be maintained even under the most difficult conditions.
For four years of operation of the cab assembly for the new lineup, the experts managed to reveal bottlenecks there. The technologists are currently aiming their efforts to debottlenecking. Today's conveyor capacity of 10 thousand cabs is to double in a year. Cabs both for K-4 and K-5 heavy trucks will be assembled at one line.
According to Vladimir Araslanov, Head of Department for Analysis of Assembly Efficiency at the Automobile Plant, this line sees a long start. "It stops for almost 30 minutes at the very first position wh ere the bottom of the cab is assembled. We'll buy two more lifters for better performance, and the conveyor will work faster after rebalancing of operations," he explained. "Assembly of doors is another bottleneck. We decided to subassembly them at a separate site of the renewed conveyor. And this will give the mechanicians additional space for maneuvers and comfortable working conditions. The assembled doors will be hanged at the final position by a special manipulator we plan to buy."
Besides, the assembly process is slowed down due to programming and parameterization of electronic systems. Initially, there was only one station for software uploading and inspection of cab electrical equipment at this position. Another station was put into operation, because the number of orders increased greatly. The higher level electronic systems in the new heavy truck will require equipment of a new class. To add to this, almost all manipulators functioning at the cab assembly line will also be upgraded. There will be a place for a sprinkling chamber too: the assembled cabs will be checked for leakproofness during a rain test.