When a car rolls off the assembly line, it may look finished. But before it is ready for delivery, there is often a series of processes still to be completed.
Calibration, quality checks, climate testing and other final inspections all require the vehicle to move between stations. In many production facilities, this movement involves operators driving vehicles to their next destination and returning to collect another one.
It is a routine task, repeated throughout every shift. But as production processes evolve, an important question arises: could vehicle transport be handled more efficiently, while allowing production teams to focus on other important tasks?
The overlooked part of vehicle production
Production layouts vary between manufacturers. Some use conveyor systems to move vehicles through final inspection. Others rely on operators driving them manually between stations. In many cases, a combination of both is used.
Despite these differences, the underlying challenge is often the same. Once a vehicle has wheels and can roll, it needs to be transported through the remaining production steps.
This is where automated vehicle movement can make a difference.
An automated vehicle mover from Stringo can take over the transport between stations or from end-of-line. The vehicle remains on its own wheels while the mover handles the movement, creating a more consistent flow and allowing production teams to focus on tasks where their experience and skills add the most value.
The potential benefits go beyond simply automating a transport task.
Five reasons to rethink manual vehicle handling
1. Lower operating costs
Driving vehicles between production stations may seem like a small task, but across multiple shifts and high production volumes, the resources required can add up.
Operators drive each vehicle to the next station and return to collect another one. Automating this repetitive movement can reduce the resources needed for internal vehicle transport and help manufacturers make better use of their existing workforce.
2. Supporting quality control
A vehicle that has left the assembly line is not necessarily ready for delivery.
It may still require calibration, inspection or testing before it can be considered complete. During these stages, manufacturers need to maintain control over how vehicles move through the process.
Automated movement provides a consistent way to transport vehicles between stations, helping support established quality procedures while reducing unnecessary vehicle handling.
3. A safer production environment
Moving vehicles inside production facilities requires coordination and attention. In busy areas, vehicles, equipment, infrastructure and people may all share the same space.
Automating selected transport movements can help reduce unnecessary vehicle traffic and support a more predictable production environment. It can also reduce the number of routine driving tasks operators need to perform in areas where other production activities are taking place.
4. Consistent availability around the clock
Production schedules often extend across multiple shifts, and maintaining a consistent flow requires reliable support throughout the day.
An automated vehicle mover does not require shift changes, sick leave or vacation planning. With scheduled service and maintenance, the system can operate around the clock according to production needs.
This can help manufacturers maintain a more predictable transport process and reduce the need to coordinate staffing around repetitive vehicle movements.
5. Addressing workforce challenges
Finding people for repetitive manual tasks is becoming an increasing challenge in several manufacturing markets.
The issue is not the skill or importance of production operators. Rather, manufacturers are looking for ways to make better use of available manpower while maintaining efficient production.
Automating repetitive vehicle transport can help address this challenge and allow production teams to focus on tasks that require human judgment, experience and expertise.
From manual driving to automated vehicle flow
The business case for automating vehicle movement is becoming increasingly relevant. It is not only about replacing an existing conveyor or introducing automation into the main production line. It is also about looking at what happens after the vehicle leaves the line and identifying where transport can be handled more efficiently.
An automated vehicle mover from Stringo can transport vehicles between production stations while they remain on their own wheels. Depending on the production layout, this can include transfers to calibration, quality control, testing facilities and other final inspection processes.
The solution can be designed around the actual flow of the facility, rather than forcing the production process to adapt to fixed transport infrastructure.
For manufacturers, the question is therefore not simply how to move vehicles from one station to another. It is how to create a production flow that makes better use of available resources, supports the people working in it and remains reliable as production needs change.
The vehicle may have left the assembly line, but its journey through production is not over. Automating the movement between stations can help make that journey more efficient—for the entire production team.
Learn more about the flexibility of Stringo Automated
Don’t miss the article where Stellan Robertsson, Project Manager in the Stringo R&D team, explains how flexibility by design helps future-proof your automotive operations.