The US Automotive Industry and The Big Three

The US Automotive Industry and The Big Three

We have a proud car culture in the United States but, surprisingly, not many people know too much about this country's automotive history. For this history lesson, we are focusing on the automotive "industry" rather than the history of the automobile itself.

When It All Began

In the 1890s, the American automotive industry began and, thanks to the use of mass-production and the large size of the domestic market, quickly evolved into the largest automotive industry in the world (though this title would be taken from the U.S. by Japan in the 1980s and then from Japan by China in 2008).

The U.S. motor vehicle industry actually started with hundreds of manufacturers, but by the end of the 1920s, three companies stood apart from the rest:

The Big Three

These three companies continued to prosper, even after the Great Depression and World War II. Henry Ford began building cars back in 1896 and started the Ford-Motor Company in 1903. Ford utilized the first conveyor belt-based assembly line in 1913, improving mass production of its Model T. The assembly line decreased costs significantly and the Model T sold so well that it propelled Ford into the largest automobile company in the U.S.

General Motors was founded by William Durant (formerly a carriage maker)n in 1908. In the first couple of years, GM acquired Buick, Oldsmobile, Oakland (later to become Pontiac), Cadillac, and a number of other car companies. Durant also wanted to acquire Ford but Henry Ford opted to keep his company independent. Having become a little to "acquisition-happy," Durant over-extended the company and was forced out by a group of banks who took controlling interest in the company. Durant then teamed up with Louis Chevrolet and founded Chevrolet in 1913, which became a quick success. Durant retook majority control in GM after acquiring enough stock and GM acquired Chevrolet in 1917. This did not last long, however. Durant was forced out again in 1921. In the late 1920s, GM overtook Ford as the largest automaker.

The former president of Buick and a former executive of GM, Walter Chrysler took control of the Maxwell Motor Company in 1920, revamped it, and reorganized it into Chrysler Corporation in 1925. Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers in 1927 and, in 1928, introduced the DeSoto and Plymouth brands thanks to the dealer network and manufacturing facilities that came with the Dodge acquisition. By the 1930s, Chrysler overtook Ford and became the second largest automaker.

1950s and Beyond

By 1950, America produced almost 75 percent of all automobiles in the world. At the start of the 1970s, however, U.S. auto companies (especially the Big Three) were severely affected by increased competition from foreign auto manufacturers and high oil prices. In subsequent years, companies bounced back occasionally but the crisis reached its pinnacle in 2008, prompting Chrysler and General Motors to file for bankruptcy reorganization and be bailed out by the federal government. While Ford was also affected by the crisis, it decided to power through on its own and did not take the bail out. We actually have a lot of respect for Ford as a result of this. They did not take the easy way out.

The year 2014 saw saw the biggest (seasonally adjusted annualized) sales in history with 16.98 million vehicles.

Top 10 Common Automotive Defects

Top 10 Common Automotive Defects

When we buy a new car, we often take for granted that it will work perfectly fine right off the assembly line. Unfortunately, care manufacturers often make mistakes, either through a faulty design or errors made by workers in the assembly process.

As a result, many of these design errors could cause you or others you share the road with to crash, leading to injury or death. Below is a list of some of the most common automotive defects.

1) Faulty airbags. These devices were installed to keep you safe, but can be be part of the problem if not functioning correctly. Some airbags have been known to deploy while driving, obscuring the road from the driver and causing a crash. In other cases, the airbags do not properly deploy on impact, allowing significant blunt trauma to occur to the driver.

2) Faulty seat belts. Like airbags, seat belts occasionally malfunction at in opportune times and can become loose during an accident when the passenger needs them the most.

3) Faulty accelerator pedals. There have been several car manufacturers who have reported problems with the car acceleration system. The driver can be going along at normal speed and then all of the sudden the car undergoes a sudden acceleration, often causing the driver to hit the car in front of him. Sometimes the pedal literally just falls to the floor without warning.

4) Faulty tires. Tires are some of the most important components on a vehicle to insure a safe drive. A faulty tire can all of the sudden blow out in the middle of the freeway, causing the car to spiral dangerously out of control. Faulty tires can also fail to properly grip the road, especially in bad weather, due to flaws in tread design or rubber used to make it.

5) Bad brakes. Brakes are critical to the safety of your car. Some of the most serious accidents occur when the brakes fail and the driver cannot stop before slamming into another motorist or off the side of the road. Even if the brakes engage, but only partially stop the, they can result in an accident. Brakes can also engage prematurely, which can be particularly dangerous on high speed thoroughfares.

6) Faulty gas tank. A gas tank that either leaks or allows sparks access to the fuel inside can be particularly dangerous, especially during a crash. Sometimes the gas tank can even be placed improperly making it more likely to fail in the event of an accident, leading to a large explosion before the passengers have a chance to escape the car.

7) Fuel line defects. Similar to issues with the gas tank, a faulting gas line can literally be an explosive problem.

8) Flawed car design. Engineers often can fail when planning out the overall design of the car in terms of its center of mass. For example, if the car or van is too top heavy it could have a propensity to tip over when making modest turns at high speed.

9) Power steering failure. Many Americans have gotten used to how easy it is to maneuver their cars with power steering. The problem is that this ease comes with the price of being dependent on technology. If the power steering fails while you are driving, particularly if you are driving at a high speed, you could literally lose control of the car at a most inopportune time.

10) Defective electronics. It has been reported recently that certain GPS mapping systems have led drivers into hazardous conditions due to programming glitches in the GPS mapping software. Many drivers take GPS for granted and often do not expect their systems to fail or report incorrect directions. This has been known to lead some drivers into dangerous traffic circumstances.

The list above represents a list of some of the most common automotive defects consumers experience with a new car. As a result, if you plan on buying a new car it pays to pay attention to any independent consumer alerts and insist on a thorough inspection prior to trusting your loved ones lives with the vehicle.

In the event of being involved in a collision due to a defective auto part, be sure to contact a reputable car accident attorney to help protect your interests and explore your legal options.

Automotive Engine Repair Process

Automotive Engine Repair Process

As vehicle engines become old, or improperly maintained, internal engine component failure can occur. While some vehicle owners may choose to simply buy a new car, there are many people that want to repair their engines so that they do not have to take on a car payment for a new car. Especially in this economy, it is understandable how people want to stretch their money as far as it can go. In many cases, rebuilding a damaged engine is more cost effective then buying a new car in the long run.

When an engine has failed, a skilled automotive technician will remove it from the vehicle. This is a laborious process and can often cost around seven hundred dollars to remove and reinstall automotive engines. Once the engine is out of the vehicle, it normally is given to a skilled engine builder for further assessment.

Once the engine builder has the engine, it will be carefully disassembled. Notes will be taken during this process to document the damage found. Once the engine is completely disassembled, all of the components are chemically cleaned to remove the oil, carbon and any contaminates. At this point, the engine builder can use specialized measuring tools to determine whether or not the internal engine parts are within acceptable tolerances. After a full assessment is made, the engine builder will then quote out the parts and labor necessary to repair the engine.

The labor to repair an engine is the largest component of the overall engine repair bill. In many cases the cylinder block must be bored, new pistons installed on the connecting rods and the cylinder heads reconditioned. Another labor intensive process is repairing the crankshaft.

When you hear people saying that their engine has a "spun bearing," this simply means that one of their crankshaft bearings has failed. Bearing and crankshaft failure, by most accounts, are the leading cause of failed engines being removed from vehicles. When the crankshaft must be reconditioned, the process is completed in a crankshaft grinding machine. The equipment to perform this task can cost well over $50,000, which is why repairing crankshafts is not inexpensive.

After all of the engine components have been repaired or replaced, an engine builder will thoroughly clean all of the components before assembly. This is needed to remove any contaminates from the internal engine parts. With clean parts in hand, the engine builder may assemble the engine in a clean environment so that it is ready for the automotive technician to install.

After the automotive technician has installed the rebuilt engine, in most cases they will offer a limited warranty of one to three years. This warranty assures vehicle owners that the investment they made in repairing their engine is protected by a contract. With a typical car payment being $300 or more each month, vehicle owners can often save nearly $10,000 when they repair a failed engine instead of buying new. In these tight economic times, those savings can allow consumers the opportunity to save a significant amount of money over just a few years.

The Automotive Industry and Global Trade

The Automotive Industry and Global Trade

In the United States, one city is typically synonymous with the automotive industry. It's challenging to think of an American made car without thinking of Detroit, Michigan, and in recent years the financial trouble the automobile giant has endured. Though foreign manufacturers in Japan and Korea have gained strength and drivers in the US, it doesn't necessarily mean US automakers are done. MSNBC reported in late 2011 that the Big 3 in Detroit - Chrysler, Ford, and GM - enjoyed a nearly 30 percent increase due to a demand in sports utility vehicles and trucks.

Quick Facts About the Automotive Industry





Major Exporters of Automobiles

While China is one of the world's largest producers of passenger vehicles, the country is not necessarily ranked high among top global exporters. The International Trade Centre recently put out a report on top automotive exporters, with the following leading the pack:





Major Importers of Automobiles

While many countries produce domestic brands, automobile imports remain strong in economies that seek certain qualities, such as fuel efficiency and safety features. Among the top importers of automobiles:





The Aftermarket

Equally important to the automotive industry is the manufacture and sale of auto parts and accessories, commonly known as the aftermarket. Sub-industries relevant to automobile sales may include products like tires and paint, stereo and GPS, engines and chemicals needed for operation, leather and vinyl for seating and safety features.  According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the aftermarket in the US alone totals over $250 billion.

Though faltering economies and natural disasters have given the international automotive industry a number of challenges, one can conclude sales are destined to remain strong so long as the need for personal transportation remains. How and where people will by their cars may change over time as considerations for eco-friendly features grow in demand, but so long as people continue to buy automobiles the global industry will continue to gain speed.

LEDs: The Future of Automotive Lighting!

LEDs: The Future of Automotive Lighting!

Gone are the days when the obsolete incandescent bulbs ruled the automotive lighting industry. It's time to go hi-tech! It's time to go the LED way! Light emitting diodes or LEDs, as they are commonly referred, are a type of transistor which emits highly directional light whenever current is passed through it. These highly advanced lighting devices have a large number of advantages over their conventional counterparts including:

Today, for almost every purpose, LED lighting is available in the automotive industry. Interestingly, these illuminations can even be installed in locations where the conventional fluorescent and incandescent bulbs cannot be installed with easy.

LED: The History!

The first ever use of a LED lighting bulb in the automotive industry was on a Corvette (1984) as a high mount stop centered lamp. They worked excellently as the stop bulbs had the ability to spark up almost instantaneously. This provides the drivers with enough time to avoid any severe accident if a car undergoes a sudden braking action. Thus, the initial use of these bulbs as braking lights was not just for the mere sake of styling, but for an extremely important purpose of safety. With time, they have resulted in the development of much better brake lights.

LED: The potential hurdle!

Over time, they have emerged as a standard automotive lighting technology, especially as turn indicators and rear lights. However, the only factor that hinders the adoption of this highly efficient technology is its high price as compared to the conventional light fixtures.  However, the compactness and long lifespan makes them clearly win the race. Moreover, the instant lighting capability makes them highly desirable from the safety point of view, especially when employed as turn signals and rear lights.

When employed as automotive lighting fixtures, they are used as an assembly of a large number of LEDs, rather than a single bulb. It is because individual bulbs emit the light in extremely narrow angle and of a lesser light intensity.

LED: Emission of different colors!

LEDs (RGB) encompass the capability to emit light of almost any color from the same assembly. They can be constructed either by combining three red, blue and green lights in a single unit or by doping three different substrates for emitting three different lights.

LED: Hiding away!

One of the major advantages is that they can be twisted and turned into an assembly of thin strips, owing to their small size and can even be placed at locations, where conventional lights cannot reach. This is the reason why they are being extensively employed as running lights.

In years to come, LEDs are rapidly emerging to replace the conventional lights as automotive headlights!

Business Management Supply Chain

Business Management Supply Chain - Product Kits, an ERP Solution to the Automotive Grey Market

Introduction

An increasing threat to the automotive industry over the past decade has been the growth in the use of non-genuine parts, known as the grey market. The grey market is the third party market in non-genuine parts, clones of the original manufactured components. Distributors deal with the grey market problem and its growth by trying to find ways of providing incentives to use genuine parts.

Many have started to use kits which link together key components to provide a complete solution. These kits offer considerable financial, logistical and quality incentives, as well as improved warranties, to dealers and their customers and so remove the need to look to the grey market for replacement parts. This market is growing rapidly, especially within Asia, and includes counterfeit parts, as well as parts that are not intended to be counterfeit but are simply cheaper replacement parts. ERP software solutions, particularly the supply chain software, inventory correctly managed and configured must be capable of

For the customer, the use of non-genuine parts carries considerable financial risk. Grey market parts are almost universally inferior in quality to genuine parts and although cheaper initially, have to be replaced at more frequent intervals. They usually offer very limited warranty and, as these are individual components, each must carry its own warranty whereas a kit of genuine parts provides a more comprehensive warranty from the manufacturer. Another consideration is that the use of non-genuine parts potentially places all warranty at risk. Many distributors issue warranties under the condition that only genuine or approved parts are used.

In addition, the use of non-genuine parts can potentially affect the life span, or quality of a genuine part, particularly in the case where a non-genuine part is a component of multiple parts. If that non-genuine part endures greater and more rapid wear and tear, the rest of the components will suffer similarly. It requires more service, so in the short term, the cost is lower but in the long term, it actually may be a lot higher. A good example of that are components that endure a lot of wear and tear such as brake pads. Brake pads are a common item and non-genuine pads are known to wear at a greater rate, and therefore need to be replaced much more frequently.

The negative effects of the grey market on the manufacturer and distributor are many and varied. For example, a grey market brake pad may last one quarter as long as a genuine pad, and if the owner is unaware that the replacement is not a genuine part, blame may well be attributed to the manufacturer. For the distributor, the grey market cuts into market share. A major point of contention is when qualified service points use non-genuine parts. A vehicle owner may naturally expect that a qualified service point will provide genuine parts replacement. In fact, many distributors believe that their competition is not so much fellow distributors, but the market in grey spares.

Re-conditioned parts are another problem. It may not be well known amongst vehicle owners, but parts are sometimes removed from damaged or written-off vehicles. Instead of using new genuine parts, re-conditioned parts can be used. The longevity of that part is, therefore, not known, however a vehicle owner will expect that a genuine service will provide genuine parts. Although this is not yet prevalent in Australia due to the cost of importing grey parts, it can be the case in Asia as parts fail earlier than expected, leading to customer dissatisfaction and low regard for customer service. And as the cost of these items decreases and the quality improves, the distributor will find it even more difficult to compete. Kitting therefore becomes an integral and critical competitive strategy to counter the grey market.

Kits

There are two types of kits: Build Kits and Bill of Material (BOM) Kits. A Build Kit is one in which individual parts are pre-assembled before they are ordered and made available as a packaged unit. This type of kit is traditionally developed around a selection of dependent parts that are constantly used. An example in the automotive industry would be a 20,000km service kit, consisting of the relevant parts which are packaged ready for the service centre to use. It eliminates the requirement to determine and then search for individual components to complete the service. A single part number represents multiple parts.

A Build Kit provides an easy ordering process and eliminates the potential errors which are sometimes introduced when ordering individual parts. Furthermore, service centres may not have all of the required parts to perform a service or to replace faulty components. A Build Kit solves this problem.

A BOM Kit is used in situations where a single part number represents many smaller components. In simple terms, this kit expands into all the individual components and is picked and packaged at the time of order. For example, rather than ordering components individually, a single part number would enable all component parts to be ordered at once, eliminating errors and ensuring an easier, more comprehensive, higher quality ordering process.

Benefits of Kitting and Incentives

To solve the problem of non-genuine parts in the heavy vehicle industry many distributors have service kits for every level of service up to 100,000km. It is simple to find the kit for the model, for the service and order accordingly. Rather than have multiple line items in a purchase order, a single line item is sent to the warehouse that is then packaged and sent. A kit gives the dealer confidence that all components required for a particular job are present. In addition to Service Kits, the truck industry has developed the concept of Smash Kits - front-end, rear-end and specific panels Smash Kits. For example, a front-end kit would normally require two headlights, a grille, radiator, hoses and associated parts. This could be an excellent opportunity for BOM Kits. A dealer can simply type the kit required for the particular model, and then pick which components are required

The trucking companies are often the litmus test. Trends are identified, and because the trucking industry is very competitive, opportunities to provide a customer service or cost advantage are extremely important. However, the automotive passenger vehicle industry is now starting to follow the truck industry in using kits.

Some incentives are being offered, for example, a kit provides a financial incentive as opposed to purchasing individual parts. These incentives vary but, for example, a particular service kit may cost $1,000 if each component is purchased individually, but $750 if purchased in kit form. Additionally, if a single component price is reduced in the marketplace, the overall kit price may still be able to balance the overall cost of the kit, thereby maintaining good profit margins.

There is also a positive effect on quality, and on supply and service times. The service dealer can be assured that all the correct parts are available for the service and that he will not have to search for or re-order forgotten components. Instead of keying the 20 or so components for a particular service, a single key is used that incorporates all of the required components. The kit is then handed to the mechanic who has all that is required to provide that service. Quality is maintained because the parts are genuine and carry appropriate warranties. These benefits provide the dealer's customer with a guaranteed level of service, ongoing support, and an increased level of satisfaction. Ultimately this may well lead to repeat and referral business for the dealer. The true incentive for the distributor is in limiting the need to go beyond the available stock and access the grey market.

Forecasting and logistics

Kitting also assists in many aspects of the supply chain, particularly inventory management systems and warehouse management. Once a kit has been assembled and the trend for that type of kit has been analysed correctly, it becomes much easier to determine inventory turnover during a defined period. Business management supply chain software can have an automatic replenishment process once a kit level has fallen below a predetermined stock arrangement.

Kits do, however, require some initial adjustment to forecasting practice. For example, if 50 kits are built, quite often it is incorrectly recorded that 50 items have been moved. However, often there is only a requirement to record demand, particularly the demand on individual components that make up a kit. In the early stages of building kits, demand for each component is critical until the appropriate forecast can be determined. Once the correct balance of the number of kits required has been established the stock arrangements can be easily dealt with. One of the dangers of kits, of course, is that there is no point in building 100 kits if only ten are being turned over monthly. With correct forecasting, it is easier to build kits a month in advance, instead of perhaps 12 months and having considerable stock sitting on shelves with a perception of low turnover.

There is no doubt that kits also provide a better level of business intelligence. Many distributors have noticed some dealers increasing their purchasing based on kits and so they can also then forecast more accurately. Without kits, the ability to maintain stock levels can be difficult as there may not be true visibility as to the use of the individual components. Trends are easier to analyse for each dealer, based on a prediction of when the next service will be due. For example, it becomes possible to predict that vehicles that have just had a 20,000km service will probably require a 30,000km service and the appropriate number of kits at a defined future time. Stock levels can then be maintained and more accurate forecasting is possible. For the distributor benefit is gained through forecasting kits, as well as the individual components that make up those kits.

Many distributors use outside logistics companies, and kits provide a much simpler process for logistics because of the way they account for handling and inventory. A common accounting process is to pay per line item. As a kit will represent a single line item, but include considerably more components, the cost of logistics can be reduced. For example, if a kit consists of three line items, payment will be made on a single line as opposed to three lines, resulting in considerable logistics savings.

Summary

With the growth and availability of third party spares components, suppliers and distributors are looking to creative ways to maintain market share as well as ensure that the quality of spare parts in the automotive market place is not diluted. Spares kits are a practical solution to this threat. Dealers can easily order kits relative to the work to be performed and be assured that all components are in place at a price that is attractive and significantly reduced from individual parts ordering. Suppliers can be assured that genuine parts are being used, so too customers whose satisfaction is guaranteed. Kits enable business intelligence to be increased with a more predictable and consistent spare parts forecasting process and inventory requirements can be minimised and based on real knowledge of customer behaviour. Kits together with your ERP software solution can enable the supply chain itself to be streamlined to meet dealer delivery expectations.

A Wide Variety Of Automotive Paints Keep Your Ride Looking Good

A Wide Variety Of Automotive Paints Keep Your Ride Looking Good || Tell me something? When you were out looking for your first car, what was the one factor that totally dominated your purchase decision? Of course the make of the car did matter. Not to mention price. But it would probably be true if I said that the one decision that gained the maximum importance in swinging your decision was probably the color of the automotive paints the car boasted.

Not many of us realize it, but automotive paints have an undeniable role to play in helping people choose their wheels of choice. How many times have we heard people speak in awe about that red Ferrari or the black Cadillac? A Mercedes Benz is always silver or gold and a number of other automobiles have their own pick of automotive paints. Admittedly, we are all suckers for quality automotive paints. And it is a small wonder that these automotive paints influence the kind of car we buy.

In the days gone by, automotive paints had a very limited scope. Due to the cost of production of automobiles, most models that rolled out of the assembly lines used either black or white automotive paints. But once automobiles had entrenched themselves in the psyche of the modern man, manufacturers began being pestered by users for a wider range of automotive paints. In America, Ford could safely be said to be the first manufacturer who offered a range of automotive paints. Pretty soon, automobiles began rolling out of assembly lines in all sorts of colors. Automotive paints were here to stay.

Today, things have gotten a tad more complicated. Due to the wide variety of automotive paints available in the market, people have begun experimenting with the regular colors of their automobiles. There are a number of two tone automotive paints available in the market and some of the flashier consumers have almost normalized multiple colors. But automotive paints themselves have not remained staid. Today's automotive paints come in more than just colors. They come with a wide variety of features that earlier generations could only dream of. There are scratch proof automotive paints, rust-free ones and even all weather automotive paints. But one thing is for certain. No matter how high tech these paints get, they still hold a place very close to our hears. And by doing so, they have become the determinants of how and why we loosen our purse strings to buy that blue beemer or green bug!

Cable Assemblies Play a Major Part in Ensuring Vehicle Safety

Cable Assemblies Play a Major Part in Ensuring Vehicle Safety || Whether traveling by car, truck, train, plane, boat or another mechanical device, people today are always on the go. Our society is built upon multiple means of getting from place to place. We take advantage of the fact that there is always an option when it comes to traveling. But, do we ever sit back and consider all that goes into making sure we are safe while traveling? We put ourselves in the hands of a machine every time we get into a car, a train, or another transportation vehicle. It is important to know that we are protected.

Our government helps regulate the safety of transportation vehicles by setting requirements and policies for the industry. The vehicle manufacturers must ensure that the variables used to create their products are also safe. They not only rely on the engineers involved in designing the vehicle and the machines used to physically make the vehicle, but they also rely on each and every piece of material used to produce the vehicle.

There are so many different types of transportation vehicles and each is made up of a number of special materials to perform a unique function. It is difficult to come up with an inclusive list so take, for example, the functions of a car. You have parts that open and close, move up and down, go side to side, heat up or cool down, and turn around and around. Making sure all of these parts work properly are vital to the safety of the car. Tying these parts together to function as a unit is a difficult task.

One of the common components to tie the working parts together are cables. There are automotive control cables to control anything from the HVAC system, to the shifting of the car, to the brake release. There are restraint cables to help with tailgating heavy loads or safety cables to hold a seat to its frame. Just about any task the vehicle performs includes some type of cable assembly. It is important to make sure that the cable assemblies used to build the vehicle functions are safe and secure.

Starting from the top and working your way down you can see how vital it is to ensure quality products are used from the beginning to construct a quality vehicle. If unsafe cables are used, it does not matter how good the machines are that make the vehicles or how smart the engineers are that design the vehicles. The manufacturers would not be able to build a safe vehicle and the government would not be able to approve the vehicle through their requirements and policies if the cables were unsafe. And, this one small factor could affect the confidence we have in the safety of our transportation. In turn, our "always on the go" society would come to a screeching stop. Safety is key and ensuring quality products are used can help us remain unharmed.

Automotive Rapid Prototyping Fail First Paradox

Automotive Rapid Prototyping Fail First Paradox || New product development and innovation is much more difficult and time consuming than most other business activities. Automotive rapid prototyping greatly enhances learning speed and reduces the risk of new automotive parts development.

Historically, the automotive industry has been using rapid prototyping as an important tool in the automotive parts design process. The extremely fast-paced automotive design cycles require an extremely fast prototyping system which can produce car parts fast and inexpensively.

The main objective of automotive prototyping is to learn quickly: how a new automotive product behaves in its natural working environment, before transferring the prototype to the production line. Many times, mistakes are learned only after a new automotive part is launched. This is the main explanation for poor automotive parts design, from product mismatch, poor engineering and function or finish, and overpriced production. In order to accelerate the learning curve, before these costly automotive prototyping mistakes are made, one must accelerate and facilitate feedback loops from tests in the lab and market trials.

Automotive Manufacturing Technologies

Working with an assortment of rapid prototyping equipment, automotive prototyping engineers utilize the most advanced 3D printers, in their quest for perfect form, function and utility. Working in advanced manufacturing centers, the automotive engineers use the technology to verify what they are doing, and, equally important, to save tremendous amounts of time, and money.

Automotive Rapid Prototyping Compresses Development Time

The advantages of 3D rapid prototyping model creation versus viewing a cad/cam model on a computer screen is palpable. Automotive parts engineers get together discuss the pros and cons of a rapidly produced automotive parts model and discuss the pros and cons of the design, as they pass it around, twisting and viewing the prototype, and decide if that is what they had in mind. This way, problems get solved up front, before going to the assembly line! Once determined that the automotive prototype design is a go, the model can then be sent to a die maker.

Automotive Prototyping and the Die Maker Process

The die maker cannot use model to make the die, but because they have it in their hand and can look at it and feel it, they can determine where the parting lines will be and exactly how much steel they will need to produce it. The timing of the die process is greatly compressed.

Examples of Automotive Rapid Prototyping Parts

·  Engine castings and parts

·  Car Engine parts

·  Auto Mechanical parts

·  Car Dashboards

·  Car Handles and Knobs

·  Auto Body Components

·  Car Trim parts

Fail first Paradox in Automotive Rapid Prototyping

The automotive rapid prototyping paradox is to fail earlier rather than later. By failing earlier, the design engineers surprisingly succeed in accelerating the project; this greatly reduces development cost risk. By considering all automotive prototype failures as learning experiments, the engineer has much less stress, knowing that they are practicing the old adage, that success comes from ninety-nine percent failure and introspection.

Companies Bring Big Supplies of Automotive Connectors

New Companies Bring Big Supplies of Automotive Connectors || Newly appeared companies bring into the market new automotive connectors and components like: tires, brake systems, stability control systems, cables, wires etc..

New suppliers of automotive connectors and components have conquered the market by their extensive activities particularly in the production of tires, brake systems, control of the vehicle dynamics and electronic sensors. With a turnover of 20 billion Euros in 2009, these new companies have about 138,500 employees in 46 countries.

These connectors providers have been real work suppliers as well, making that over 100,000 people over the world were provided with jobs.

These automotive connectors are available for most car models, such as BMW, Fiat, Opel, GM, Ford, Chrysler, RV, Farm Chevrolet, Audi, Porsche, Seat etc.

Automotive connectors are one of the most common causes of overlooking reasons for engine problems and starting problems on a boat, truck, car or anything that starts with a battery. Repairing can be made by simply replacing the old corroded and broken connector in the electrical system.

These new connectors companies have a submersible and nature sealed interconnection systems that have designed auto connectors to withstand harsh conditions. These connectors include opaque and inter facial seals and this new design assembled firstly is very easy to use.

It also reduces applied costs because it does not require assembly of components and eliminates the need to purchase or handle wire seals.

The Automotive Connectors provide unique combination of superior electrical performances and low insertion forces.

These are designed to meet the new requirements and face the tests which are aligned to 150,000 miles or 15-years of service life. The connectors' performance standards for sealed connectors. By being compliant with these standards, the Automotive Connectors are ideal for automotive, off-road construction, marine and agricultural equipment, as well as bus, truck and RV applications.

These connectors are available in a wide variety of shapes and circuit sizes and wire ranges. These new automotive connectors versions accommodates wide ranges of styles from SAE wires to UL type wires, in comparison to old connectors, that were usually designed for thin, weak wires.

"Prior to the old connectors, sealed connectors used in these types of applications require additional assembly by the customer and, in some cases, there were permanent connections that needed complete replacement if a connection failed, all of which cost time and money, With these new and improved connectors not only meet the market needs for sealed, they also offers pre-assembled designs that are also field repairable solutions that eliminate assemblies and down time, as well as hard repair costs."

These being said, hopefully you've understood the importance of automotive connectors and plan to get the best there is available. Among the numerous companies that provide automotive connectors, a good car can only hope its owner will choose the best product that suits your car's every personality and style. Give a few bucks more but at least you'll not regret the good quality you have found.

Can an Engineering Process Like Automotive Roll Forming Really Be an Art Form?

Can an Engineering Process Like Automotive Roll Forming Really Be an Art Form? || If you have ever been in a manufacturing plant you will see all kinds of machinery. If you think about it, everything you see has been made. Very seldom do you have anything in the raw form. Even most organic food has been handled and packaged to get to you. There are television shows based entirely on how things are made and it is fascinating.

They show how cars are made including the automotive roll forming process prior to the typical automotive assembly line we're accustomed to seeing. They show how raw materials are made into the products that can then be made into more refined products.

When looking at some of these processes the question always comes to mind, how much of it is art and how much science and engineering. Maybe it can even go into the realm of a mix. It can be art and science. After all, isn't a growing flower both? The uncoiling of a Jasmine plant is fascinating as is watching an uncoiler spinning off strands of coiled copper wire in a manufacturing plant. They both require perfect timing and incredible engineering. 

Most people watching a time lapse video of a plant growing don't think about how the stresses and strains of gravity and other forces of Mother Nature impact the ability to produce such beauty and intricacy. However, if you are an engineer in the manufacturing world, you may very well ask those questions when looking at a growing plant.

If you are a creator of bending machines then you may be paying attention to how the earth bends and molds itself into mountains and how old pine trees stay bent over for decades to be some of the oldest trees on earth yet remain so in often harsh conditions. To see the beauty of art and form in manufacturing equipment may be a stretch but then enjoying your surroundings is much less stressful than looking at everything as just another piece of metal.

Amazon India to Sell Automotive Parts and Accessories - Auto Motorbike

Amazon India to Sell Automotive Parts and Accessories

Amazon India has launched a new Car & Motorbike Store on their website which boasts of having over 22,000 products. The products range from engine oils, filters, additives, polishes seat covers, helmets, spark plugs, car vacuum cleaners, car electronics and much more!

The online store will provide customers with an easy access to thousands of car and motorbike products from more than 150 indigenous and International brands. Some of these brands include 3M, Shell, and Mega star, Vega, Hello, Philips, K&N and several others.

Samir Kumar, Director Category Management at Amazon India said that, 'We are really excited to launch this store on Amazon.in. These categories are highly unorganized in India and have limited distribution reach to genuine customers. With a vast selection of genuine spare parts and accessories, a customer trusted shopping platform like Amazon India will serve its customers to their level best and offer them quick & fast delivery services. Customers from all over India will now be able to shop for various car and bike accessories with ease.'

The 'Car & Motorbike Store' on Amazon.in has been demarcated into four sub-stores, which are 'Vehicle Care', 'Motorbike Accessories & Parts', 'Car Accessories' and 'Car Parts'. Within a few clicks any customer can shop for the accessories they need for the upkeep of their 2-wheeler or 4-wheeler. They can also choose from a variety of frames and fittings for their driving experience with the help of various riding gear such as helmets, protectors and jackets.

Mr. Ninad Gadgil, Vice President of the 3 M Automotive After-Market Division said that 'We are delighted on this association with Amazon India. The Car Care category is seeing rapid growth amongst the Indian consumers who like to take part in maintenance and upkeep of their beloved vehicles themselves. This partnership will give us a significant opportunity to penetrate the metro and non-metro markets of India through an unconventional distribution channel.'

The company also confirmed that third-party sellers like Distorted, Velocity, Olympia Industries Ltd., Pegasus Premium and Auto furnish India have signed up to sell their products with Amazon India.

This is a total win-win situation for Amazon India since Flipkart.com; its biggest competitor in the Indian market too doesn't have such a burgeoning array of spare parts and accessories. This will help them reclaim considerable market share they keep losing to Flipkart. Be sure to check out their list of spare parts similar to ours on their website to match product details if you intend to order spare parts from us to ensure that you order the correct product from us.

Driving Laws of New York You Ought to Know

Driving Laws of New York You Ought to Know

Driving on roads in New York is easy. All you need to know is few driving laws. You have been following them till now. But there are some driving laws that residents of New York are not aware of. Here is a snapshot of the common driving rules of New York city. Follow them to avoid landing yourself in any trouble.

Operating A Motor Vehicle Under The Effect of Alcohol or Drug - Article 31 of Vehicle and Traffic Law of New York state that it is against law to drive any motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drug. The common driving law worldwide - Do not Drink & Drive.

Driving Without a License - One must not drive a motor vehicle upon public highway, sidewalk or any other public place without a driving license. Under, section 509 of article 19, one should be duly licensed while driving any vehicle at such places.

Driving Without Registration/ With Expired Registration - The New York government considers its a crime to operate any automobile on public highways of New York without vehicle registration. As per section 401 of Article 14, it is important to drive only a registered vehicle.

Reckless Driving - Vehicle and Traffic Law of New York states under section 1212 of article 33 that reckless driving is an offence. Its violation of traffic rule to drive a motor vehicle in a reckless manner. If someone drives in an unreasonable manner on a public roadway or highway endangering other highway user, the person will be have to pay penalty or might serve imprisonment.

Disobeying of Traffic Signals/ Red Light/ Stop Sign - If one does not follow traffic signs or traffic rules or jumps red light, then it is an offence under article 24.

Driving On Right Side of Roadway or Overtaking - One should never drive on the right side of roadway or try to overtake another vehicle. Article 24 also considers these acts violation of traffic laws.

No Driving on Sidewalks - It is an offence (under1225) to drive any motor vehicle on or across the sidewalks. Exception to this vehicle is that one can drive at a reasonable speed that is not more than 5 miles/ hour without disturbing the safety and passage of pedestrians.

Clinging to Other Vehicle - Stated under 1253, a motorbike rider should not cling to any other vehicles on a roadway.

Seat Belt/ Child Restraint Violations - Section 1229 C says that violation of operation of vehicles with baby car seats, safety seats and safety belts is a law and anyone not abiding by this provision is subject to be guilty of a misdemeanor. This driving law means all the back seat passengers who are under the 4 years of age should be restrained in a specially designed seat that is permanently affixed or is affixed to such vehicle with a safety belt.

Operating Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic - Full use of lane is entitled to all the motorcycles till the time there is no disturbance to other motorcycles on the road. Under section 1252, no motorbike should be driven in a manner to deprive other motorcycle of the full use of a lane.

These were some of the driving laws of New York. Stay tuned for driving rules or motoring laws of other states, countries in the next post. Till, then Happy Driving!!

Significance Of Indian Automotive Components Industry

Significance Of Indian Automotive Components Industry

It has been a long time since India has emerged as the best auto components manufacturing nation in the world. Earlier, it was just a domestic supplier only. Rather than just being a substantial nation in the global automotive components supply chain, numerous auto component companies India also supply exceptional quality auto components to some of the world's renowned automobile manufacturing companies.

Most of the world's leading auto manufacturing companies purchase Indian auto components to fulfill the market's demand for genuine and quality automotive components. Recently, the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA)reported that the approximate business of the automotive component industry by the year 2015-16 will be around US $40 billion.

Out of which the total revenue by the year 2015-16 from exports will be around US $20-22 billion. 31% of engine parts, 19% of drive transmission and steering parts and 12% each of suspension & braking parts and body & chassis are being manufactured by the auto component companies. Commercial vehicle suppliers Delhi, Pune, Gurgaon, are the major supplier of auto parts in the world.

Various actions taken by some organizations such as UNIDO-SPX assisted the Indian automotive components manufacturing companies a lot to meet the world's leading automobile manufacturing companies by officiating many global business events like Auto Expo.

This year, the auto expo was held in New Delhi, from 5thJanuary 2010 to 11th January 2010. The above mentioned organization works as a technical information provider and a match making center for the industrial subcontracting and supply chain management. It eventually helps many small and medium sized companies to reach out to the international market.

Asper the Investment Commission of India, India is amongst the competitive manufacturers' and suppliers' in the global market. International auto component suppliers, which also includes the names of big brands such as Delphi, Visteon, and Bosch are fascinated by the Indian products and are looking ahead to purchase Indian auto components. These big brands have also established their operations in the Indian sub-continent.

Moreover, India is the second major manufacturing nation of motorbikes in the world after China. The massive range of automobiles, which are being manufactured in India comprises:

•    Light Motor Vehicles such as Cars, MUV's, and SUV's.

•    Commercial vehicles such as light commercial vehicles, medium and heavy commercial vehicles and buses.

•    Tractors, earth moving cranes and construction equipment.

•    Two wheelers such as motorbikes, scooters, mopeds.

•    Three wheelers including passenger carriers and goods carriers.

A Brief Introduction To Motorcycle Buying

A Brief Introduction To Motorcycle Buying

If you're looking to buy a new motorcycle, it can at first appear to be a risky task to get right. There is relatively little information available for motorcycle buyers and lack of experience can lead to the wrong buying decisions being made. Therefore it's worth taking the time to put some initial research together, particularly for first time buyers.

The first step is to choose what type of motorcycle you feel is the right one for you. Bikes are generally divided into 6 types: cruiser, touring, sport, standard, dirt and dual-sport. A lot of experienced bikers will tell you there are infinitely more types, with distinguishable differences in bikes to be seen in the categories mentioned.

A mistake often made by first time buyers is to put the most emphasis on their budget and buying the first bike that matches it. This can often lead to buying a motorcycle that doesn't really 'fit' you - with things like the handling and comfort of the ride not suiting the owner. Therefore it's worth familiarising yourself with the basics of each type of motorbike.

The most popular style of motorcycle is the cruiser, a classic looking street bike with style and comfort at the forefront of its development. Large and low-profile seating easily provides the comfort, while lots of chrome plating and a roaring exhaust will provide the desired style in most cases. The pricing of cruise bikes varies greatly, with the cheapest motorbikes available to buy new for around 3 or 4 thousand pounds, increasing all the way up to about the 15 thousand pound mark.

Touring bikes, or tourers, are designed primarily with comfort in mind. Occasionally referred to as the 'cadillac' of motorcycles, tourers are large and heavy with a high-powered motor. This can make them difficult to handle for new bikers and so touring bikes are typically associated with more experienced riders. Tourers also don't come cheap - prices for a new model start at about 7 or 8 thousand pounds and go up from there.

Another commonly seen style of motorbike is the sports bike. A typically lightweight motorbike, a sports bike is built almost completely for performance, with speed and handling being the focal features. Particularly popular with younger riders, sports bikes tend to be mostly inexpensive, with prices ranging from 3 to 15 thousand pounds for a new model. It is also worth noting however that this style of bike usually carries more expensive insurance costs due to the increased risk of a high performance motorcycle.

Standard type motorcycles were once one of the more popular types of bike but have unfortunately been replaced by advances in other types of motorcycle. Often described as an 'all round' motorbike, standard bikes are ideal for people who just want something that will enable them get from A to B. It can also be seen as an ideal beginner's bike, with its ease of handling and balance perfect for a learner.

Dirt bikes are a slightly newer category of motorcycles and group together all those bikes that are classified for off road use only. It is a rapidly growing area of motorcycle riding, with numerous competitions set up all around the world. The final category of motorcycles - dual-purpose - is closely related to dirt bikes, being as they are simply road legal versions of the off road machines. Legal requirements such as headlights and indicators are added to allow these bikes onto the road.

There are obviously many attributes to a motorbike to take into consideration when going through the purchasing process - from performance in handling to how you would look on the machine. Hopefully the information above will at least help to put you on the path to choosing the right motorcycle for you!

Automotive and Motorbike Riding in Britain

Automotive and Motorbike Riding in Britain

Automobiles and homes are the two largest investments that many people make. Some cars today even costs as much as some lower cost homes in town. Just down the street here there is a home in foreclosure that is listed for around $40,000. It is a frame home with a small lot, but is on a nice street. Around the corner, I drove by a new car lot that was sporting signs on their windshields that say, "Sale! $42,000 New Luxury Car". With the amount of money that people spend on cars and automotive related items, it is only natural that one would need lots of information on various car topics.

In many countries, one must have a license before driving. Here in the United States when someone is 16 years old they begin the process to become a licensed driver. First, a written test is given based on the driver's manual. If passed, then the person is issued a learners permit. This allows the beginning driver to drive with another licensed driver. These cards can be renewed several times, but the learning driver cannot drive by themselves until they pass the driving test. As soon as the learning driver is ready they can go back to the driver's license center and take a driving test with a police officer. This can either take place on a driving course or on the actual streets. If passed then the person receives his full fledged driver's license. One major benefit of waiting to get a driver's license it the cost of insurance. Most premiums that cover a family do not change while a family member is on the learner's permit but as soon as that driver has a license the premiums can increase dramatically.

With the cost of fuel and cars themselves, some people prefer motorcycles or motorbikes. London and other European cities are frequently full with many motorbikes in the streets. Similar to here in the states, a license is required for operating a motorbike. Instead of a written test, such as we have here in the US, drivers have to first invest a day of their time taking the Compulsory Basic Training course or 'Motorbike CBT Test". This training gives the person instruction on safety equipment and hands-on riding on a track. In the hand-on section the rider is asked to drive in and out of traffic cones, make emergency stops, and other maneuvers with the bike. Once the CBT scooter training is finished someone is then issued a license for 24 months. This allows them to ride on streets and roads without a passenger. They are also not allowed to travel on the motorways. In order to keep the certification though, the driver has to return within two years and take a module one and module two motorbike exam.

Once someone owns their own car it is only natural that they will turn their attention to maintenance things such as tires, windshield wipers, oil seals, and batteries. Car owners also like to make their cars unique with the installation of things like GPS tracking systems, custom paint jobs, new sound systems, and really good tires. The world of automotive has something to offer anyone who prefers to handle their own transportation.