BRG Townsend’s Automotive Newswire reports that Nissan Motor will in future build assembly lines capable of accommodating multiple models of its vehicles.
The report said the Nissan system allows a single production line to accommodate four chassis sizes and eight vehicle models. The mechanism that secures the vehicle to the production line can be adjusted to fit a given frame, so the model being produced can be changed without significant costs and the line produces 60 units per hour.
Nissan is already using these flexible lines for eight production lines in six plants but plans to expand its use to all of its 17 lines at 11 plants by the end of 2005, the report said.