Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: KAMAZ – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A visiting quality council meeting, chaired by KAMAZ General Director Sergey Kogogin, was held at the axle plant. The executives assessed the improvements implemented since the beginning of the year and a new project to improve axle productivity and quality, which is expected to increase production rates and the quality of finished products.
At the production facility, the auto giant's CEO and top managers were shown developments related to production process ergonomics and presented with a new project aimed at increasing the productivity and quality of axle production. As part of this project, plant specialists analyzed production processes on the assembly line and identified operations requiring optimization. Specifically, they decided to extend the ball joint/steering knuckle housing subassembly conveyor, increasing the capacity of the subassembly stockpile to ensure the stable operation of the axle assembly line. Workstation ergonomics were also addressed: areas for assembling fasteners into product baskets for axle assembly were organized, eliminating unnecessary movement. Hub group components were also assembled in the warehouse and delivered by trolley to the axle shop to avoid overstuffing the conveyor.
The axle plant's specialists also identified the need to integrate the hub seal pressing line into the overall brake drum machining line. This solution freed up space and eliminated a source of contamination on the axle assembly line. Now, the hub arrives fully assembled and ready for installation on the axle. Changes were also made to the electronic assembly system's operating program, eliminating some process steps and increasing productivity without compromising axle assembly quality. All of this made it possible to implement a single-shift schedule for axle assembly, and organize the second shift for component subassembly with a minimum number of personnel. This eliminated downtime and improved the flow of work at the start of the first shift.
Furthermore, the meeting raised the need for staff training in a dedicated training room equipped with the necessary equipment and closely aligned with actual production processes. This issue will be addressed soon, but currently, staff are undergoing training on production lines with mentors.
Overall, the project aims to increase productivity by an average of 20%. This will maximize the demand for KAMAZ axles and effectively organize the plant's workforce. After assessing the work, Sergey Kogogin noted that the situation on the assembly line has improved: ergonomics have improved, and the assembly rate has noticeably increased. "This is the productivity we need today, because we need to cover the additional production costs associated with rising energy and material prices with our internal resources. It's gratifying to see that the axle plant is addressing this," Sergey Kogogin concluded. "Since my last visit, the plant's appearance has changed, output has increased, people are working more evenly, and efforts are being made to make their work easier. Each of our production facilities must follow this path to be effective."
In the near future, the head of KAMAZ has planned similar meetings at each of the company's plants.
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