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Tesla does much more in-house when compared to other auto plants, they buy more individual components and raw material and less partially assembled parts. I'm t

by Anchor 10y ago

Tesla does much more in-house when compared to other auto plants, they buy more individual components and raw material and less partially assembled parts. I'm told that many of auto plants that produce the complete vehicle do mainly integration work these days. Tesla's approach is different, so they require more hands, but pay considerably less for the upstream supplies flowing into the plant.

Theodores 10y ago
In the UK we call this a 'screwdriver operation' where they don't 'really make cars' but they just put a few bits together, pre-assembled elsewhere. This started with the Japanese auto manufacturers wanting to compete in Europe, the UK government gave the incentives to Nissan and Honda but the factories were 'screwdriver operations' according to sceptics.
- cptskippy 10y ago
  It's called an assembly plant in the US. There's nothing inherently wrong with this and it can actually afford greater automation and efficiencies in a number of ways. You have the option of receiving prefabricated components from multiple sources. If you're doing built to order manufacturing you can slot in variations more easily of they're complete modules assembled identically.
  - Munkum 10y ago
    The more parts in assembly there are, the harder it is to control quality. You have to trust that the 3rd party supplier is meeting the required spec in manufacture and that the parts are damaged in transit.
    - cptskippy 10y ago
      > The more parts in assembly there are, the harder it is to control quality. Which is why they tend to move to larger modular components. Things like seats arrive preassembled and simply need to be inspected and installed. Inspection can happen off the assembly floor and managed without disrupting production. > You have to trust that the 3rd party supplier is meeting the required spec in manufacture and that the parts are damaged in transit. You don't have to rely on 3rd parties to run an assembly plant. Your assembly plant can be fed by your own manufacturing facilities. But if you do rely on 3rd parties, it's definitely possible and companies like Apple do it with great success.
    - justin66 10y ago
      > The more parts in assembly there are, the harder it is to control quality. The quality of passenger cars is so, so much higher now than prior to the use of these methods. It seems like they've got the quality control processes taken care of to some extent.
krondor 10y ago
This is not so different actually, and has been done in the past by other auto manufacturers (some may even still be doing this today). The Ford River Rouge plant is the best example I can think of with literal Iron Ore going in one side and finished cars rolling out the other. Musk may have been inspired by this plant. http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-factory-like-ford-plant-2016-9 http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-factory-like-ford-plant...
- Animats 10y ago
  Here's Tesla's supplier list.[1] Tesla makes the battery, motor, aluminum stampings, and plastic parts. They also now make their own seats and some of the circuit boards for the electronics. Everything else (steering, brakes, wheels, etc.) is outsourced. Makes sense; that stuff is standard. [1] http://insideevs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tesla-info.jpg http://insideevs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tesla-info.j...

by Anchor 10y ago

Theodores 10y ago

In the UK we call this a 'screwdriver operation' where they don't 'really make cars' but they just put a few bits together, pre-assembled elsewhere. This started with the Japanese auto manufacturers wanting to compete in Europe, the UK government gave the incentives to Nissan and Honda but the factories were 'screwdriver operations' according to sceptics.

cptskippy 10y ago
It's called an assembly plant in the US. There's nothing inherently wrong with this and it can actually afford greater automation and efficiencies in a number of ways. You have the option of receiving prefabricated components from multiple sources. If you're doing built to order manufacturing you can slot in variations more easily of they're complete modules assembled identically.
- Munkum 10y ago
  The more parts in assembly there are, the harder it is to control quality. You have to trust that the 3rd party supplier is meeting the required spec in manufacture and that the parts are damaged in transit.
  - cptskippy 10y ago
    > The more parts in assembly there are, the harder it is to control quality. Which is why they tend to move to larger modular components. Things like seats arrive preassembled and simply need to be inspected and installed. Inspection can happen off the assembly floor and managed without disrupting production. > You have to trust that the 3rd party supplier is meeting the required spec in manufacture and that the parts are damaged in transit. You don't have to rely on 3rd parties to run an assembly plant. Your assembly plant can be fed by your own manufacturing facilities. But if you do rely on 3rd parties, it's definitely possible and companies like Apple do it with great success.
  - justin66 10y ago
    > The more parts in assembly there are, the harder it is to control quality. The quality of passenger cars is so, so much higher now than prior to the use of these methods. It seems like they've got the quality control processes taken care of to some extent.

krondor 10y ago

This is not so different actually, and has been done in the past by other auto manufacturers (some may even still be doing this today). The Ford River Rouge plant is the best example I can think of with literal Iron Ore going in one side and finished cars rolling out the other. Musk may have been inspired by this plant. http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-factory-like-ford-plant-2016-9 http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-factory-like-ford-plant...

Animats 10y ago
Here's Tesla's supplier list.[1] Tesla makes the battery, motor, aluminum stampings, and plastic parts. They also now make their own seats and some of the circuit boards for the electronics. Everything else (steering, brakes, wheels, etc.) is outsourced. Makes sense; that stuff is standard. [1] http://insideevs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tesla-info.jpg http://insideevs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tesla-info.j...