Overview:

The Case study highlights the adeptness of our team at ENWPS to successfully implement a complex project at the General Motors, Talegaon car assembly plant as per their pre-defined set of standards.

 

About The Client:

Our client, General Motors (GM), is a global company specializing in the production of cars, trucks, and SUVs and providing parts and services to support manufacturing operations. The company is the second-largest automaker in the world. The project assigned to ENWPS was concerned with General Motors, Talegaon plant.

The Talegaon plant currently assembles the following vehicles for the Indian market:

o Chevrolet Spark (legacy Daewoo Matiz)

o Chevrolet Cruze

o Chevrolet Beat (global-market Chevrolet Spark)

o Chevrolet Sail Sedan and Chevrolet Sail Hatchback

 

Case Study Brief:

The case study deals with implementing the Lean Error Proofing (LEP) system for the assembly plant. LEP is an industrial concept used by General Motors for improving the assembly procedures and resolving the issues of downtime and missing fasteners. The purpose of LEP is to reduce variations in the production process by eliminating a potential failure due to human error or process failure. Error proofing means preventing minor mistakes in the production flow at their initial stage rather than down the line when a product has already been completed and distributed.

Another term for Lean Error Proofing (LEP) is “Poka-yoke’, which follows the mistake-proofing approach towards manufacturing. It is a Japanese term where ‘Poka’ means ‘inadvertent errors,’ and ‘yoke’ means ‘to avoid.’ Therefore, avoiding unexpected or coincidental errors from production that may lead to unfavorable results.

General Motors wanted to install a similar LEP system for their Talegaon assembly plant. ENWPS undertook the assignment as an Implementation and Development Partner.

 

Our Work:

As part of the project, ENWPS was assigned the task of developing and installing the LEP logic to integrate the error-proof workflow. Our team performed installation and programming of eight different lines in GM’s General Assembly shop, namely –

o Trim Line 1

o Trim Line 2

o High Chassis 1

o High Chassis 2

o Low Chassis

o Engine Dressing

o Final Line

o Cockpit

Key Challenges:

• Tight Deadlines and Hectic Work Schedule: For a consistent 100+ days, our team worked on-site in the second shift after the first shift had concluded the daily task. The work scope included developing logic, completing installation work, and reverting the existing logic of the running line before the operations begin on the line the next day.
• Challenges During Installation: Installing the cable trays and laying the power cable at Chassis line at a height of 40 feet using a Boom Lift.

 

The Solution:

Despite all the obstacles in the process, our team concluded the development and installation of the Lean Error Proof (LEP) system while complying with GM standards. The everyday work scope involved strategically planning the day-to-day activities to avoid interruption in the line operations. Our team collaboratively worked with the GM team to ensure seamless production and prevent any calamity during the tasks. With the help of skilled programmers, electrical supervisors, safety officers, and skilled laborers, the project was concluded within the stipulated time. Below, solutions were provided by the ENWPS team as part of the successful implementation of the LEP system.

o Providing identification, guidance, verification of correct part, and work completion

o Quality Management System on production floor

o Torque Tool (TT) -correct torque selection, application, and confirmation

o Part Pick (PP) -part selection, guidance, verification, and confirmation

o Process tool (PT) -process tool/equipment interfacing for selection, application & confirmation.

o Providing electrical drawings design and draft using Eplan P8 as per GM standards to the maintenance team to troubleshoot electrical errors if any

o Support and Documentation

 

The Result:

The LEP system implementation and development project was successfully concluded without interfering with the car production in the plant. ENWPS became one of the most trusted vendors of General Motors, as this concept was established globally for the first time in General Motors Talegaon.

 

Our Achievements:

Assembly lines are complex and involve various barriers in implementing any new concept, as any small error can disrupt the entire process. Therefore, the successful accomplishment was possible from the team’s sheer hard work and dedication.

As a result of it, ENWPS was entitled to Implementation Partner of General Motors Technical Center, Bangalore, for the Lean Error Proofing system. Later, General Motors India recommended ENWPS for carrying out a similar LEP concept implementation for General Motors Egypt.

 

Glimpses of the Project: