Over the past few decades, the BiW assembly cycle times have significantly decreased:

• 1990s: Traditional methods resulted in cycle times often exceeding 120 seconds per vehicle.
• 2000s: The introduction of advanced robotics and assembly line optimizations reduced cycle times to approximately 100 seconds per vehicle.
• 2010s: The adoption of lean manufacturing principles and further automation advancements led to cycle times around 80 seconds per vehicle.
• 2020s: ABB's collaboration with GAC Motor resulted in a production cycle time of 46 seconds per vehicle body, setting a new standard in manufacturing efficiency. 

To meet GAC Motor's target of a 46-second cycle time, ABB enhanced its GateFramer assembly system by increasing the number of robots from 14 to 18. This setup included eight high-performance IRB 6700 robots and ten IRB 6650s robots, enabling the positioning of car body parts within 10 seconds and welding 72 joints in just 16 seconds. 

Effective multi-robot coordination is crucial for achieving such efficiency. This coordination ensures that each robot performs its task precisely when needed, contributing to the overall reduction in cycle time and enhancing production efficiency. 

On Dec 5, @JT, @LS , and @HT are hosting a webinar where they will talk about the full workflow that brings a BiW cell to life. Register Here.