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PROBLEM:
A major diesel engine manufacturer was experiencing slow and inefficient work flow. The existing automated transfer process that moved engines from the test stand to point line was the main suspect.

Existing process meant that the operator had to wait until the loaded trolley transferred out of the load station before another loaded pallet would move in. This resulted in idle time for the operators as they waited for pallets to transfer. To resolve the problem, operators were switching the conveyor to manual mode overriding the process to move the pallet into the load station.

THE ATS SOLUTION:
ATS worked with the customer to understand the existing problem and identify a simple change in the software program that would solve the problem. The revised program enabled a loaded pallet to be on the way to the load station while the trolley was in the process of transferring out.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
The solution eliminated the need for the operator to manually intervene. So they no longer had to wait for the pallet to clear. This program reduced cycle time by 33% from three minutes to two minutes per engine.