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> "Far from leapfrogging the techniques of conventional automakers, Tesla is now struggling just to match the efficiency of its more established rivals." I don
by Robotbeat 9y ago
> "Far from leapfrogging the techniques of conventional automakers, Tesla is now struggling just to match the efficiency of its more established rivals."
I don't think this is true any more. Tesla switched Model 3 from high automation approach at the end of 2017 to a more conventional approach using human labor where appropriate, but still is ramping up quickly and seems to find using human labor very effectively. That doesn't sound like they're struggling with the more traditional approach, but rather embracing it successfully (for Model 3).
But I thought this line was good:
> "Instead of easing robots onto the line a few at a time, providing for inevitable debugging problems with redundant equipment, GM bet the entire Hamtramck production system on the proposition that leading-edge automation would work instantaneously."
Tesla does seem to be learning this lesson. And this is the right takeaway: learn respect for the way things are done, without losing the realization that something far better is possible. That reminds me of the ramp up of Falcon 9.
> "Musk likely could have spared himself a lot of short-term headaches if he had relied more heavily on auto industry veterans to warn him against repeating mistakes made by other car companies in previous decades. But if he had done that, he would also be less likely to discover ways to optimize the manufacturing process—particularly optimizations that work particularly well for a company specializing entirely in electric vehicles."
This is a good insight as well. Good article.
- dmckeon 9y ago1) Consider an assembly line where all tasks and material movements are done by humans. Over years, line operations are tuned to improve faster & better production. Even the vehicle designs are influenced by the capabilities of the line. 2) Machinery is introduced incrementally, supplementing or replacing each human task or material movement. Operations and designs continue to be tuned. 3) Eventually, a line has no humans - but the line design was created around humans, and still inherits constraints for human interaction. 4) Now, imagine a line where the entire line is designed for robots from the start. No humans doing production tasks at all, ever. Even the vehicles being produced are designed to facilitate robotic production. Henry Ford was level 1. Most modern US production is level 2, hoping to reach level 3. Tesla hoped to reach level 4, settled for available tech at level 3, and is having to fall back to level 2 in some areas. (IMHO). Is anyone manufacturing entire cars at level 4? How about major components (engines, transmssions, drivetrains)? edit: 1..3 are evolutionary, 4 is revolutionary.
- kosievdmerwe 9y agoYou know that assembly lines are periodically rebuilt from scratch right.
- pas 9y agohttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16896672 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16896672
- blattimwind 9y ago> How about major components (engines, transmssions, drivetrains)? Yes.