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>At the scale these things work out there’s no way to really “have a backup” not in the true sense that backup means. If you build a factory you use a factory
by TrapLord_Rhodo 4y ago
>At the scale these things work out there’s no way to really “have a backup” not in the true sense that backup means. If you build a factory you use a factory
Not really true at all... I mean, if you want to scale, just build another line?
I worked on Capex at Tesla and there was explicit talks of backup factory's. Elon was always talking about WW3 during covid and how we need to massively scale up our operations, have backup factorys in every region or we will not make it.
When we had issues scaling our GA3 line in fremont, we cut the conveyors off the line, built a tent in the parking lot and build a new line in a month. (Granted, 14 hour days every single day) but it's generally easier to build a new line with the lessons learned than try and fix the old one.
- ryanwaggoner 4y agoThe scale here is completely different, and I’d bet on Tim’s supply chain chops over Elon’s every single time.
- simonbarker87 4y agoAppreciate the input. I would say that another line at the same location isn’t a back up, that’s scaling and you can choose to run that line or not. It’s not uncommon to run a second or third line at lesser capacity than the primary line (the Nissan plant in Sunderland flex the secondary lines a lot for example). Much of my manufacturing knowledge comes from automotive and it’s very very very rare to run a literal back up factory (as in an unused facility in a different location that’s good to go to replace another factory). They take so much man power to run, so much time to set up that it’s not economically viable to just have it on standby as a back up. Even if you did there would be masses of business pressure to utilise the capacity. That’s why I pointed to diversification instead, Nissan make the Qashqai in 3 locations, UK, Russia and Japan (from memory) which gives them a level of resilience but they aren’t back ups. If Sunderland goes down then Russia and Japan plants can’t just step up and fill in. Setting up a new factory for the DBX nearly killed Aston Martin (May still do arguably) and that was one being set up ti be used. Not sat idle waiting.
- vl 4y agoRe: Nissan And, somewhat ironically (do not put production in dictatorship countries), Nissan lost one of these locations. They sold Russian plant for $1.
- TrapLord_Rhodo 4y agoThe factorys tesla is making can make all models in different regions, with nothing required to be shipped between the factorys. I didn't mean back up as in they sit idle, but are able to produce every portion of the car. (Well.. technically fremont can't because it needs batterys from Reno, but thats besides the point) The Berlin, Texas, Shanghai factorys are essentially 'back-up factorys'.