IS THE INDUSTRY OVERDOSING ON AUTOMATION?

Interviews with automotive suppliers and manufacturers reveals a great deal of caution when considering robots and automated assembly. Consultant James Harbour of Harbour and Associates is more than a little hesitant about adding automation, stating that "We've got to learn to manage today's technology before we spend billions for new technology." Frank A. DiPietro, director of production engineering at Fisher Body, and James K. Bakken, VP of Ford's Operations Support Staff, discuss the problems that must be faced before robotic assembly becomes a thing of the present. Unimation's Joseph Engleberger, sometimes called the father of automation, also expresses a cautionary note. Yet GM's DiPietro says the robot revolution will continue. He is convinced that today's automation is quite efficient and is also necessary for survival, since the rest of the world has much lower labor rates.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/31209162
• Corporate Authors:

  Chilton Company, Incorporated

  One Chilton Way
  Philadelphia, PA  United States  19089
• Authors:
  • Andrews, A M
  • CALLAHAN, J M
  • Williams, D
• Publication Date: 1984-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 45-47
• Serial:
  • Automotive Industries
  • Volume: 164
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Randall Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 1099-4130
  • Serial URL: http://www.ai-online.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Assembly lines; Automation; Automobile industry; Economics; Management; Robotics; Technological innovations
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile assembly
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390405
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-036 913
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM