On July 26, the second phase of "MEM Technology-Innovation Enterprise Practical Classroom "entered SAIC-GM Cadillac Digital Intelligent Factory. Intelligent manufacturing is the main direction for China to accelerate the construction of a manufacturing power, strengthen the leadership of high-end industries during the 14th Five Year Plan period in Shanghai, and an important starting point for urban Digital transformation.Intelligent factory is the entry point and breakthrough to promote intelligent manufacturing.SAIC-GM Cadillac Factory is one of the representatives of intelligent factories.In order to let MEM students have a deep understanding of the deep integration of the Internet, Big data and the automotive industry, and learn the practical experience of SAIC in carrying out intelligent manufacturing in engineering development,manufacturing efficiency, product quality, logistics efficiency, energy conservation and other aspects. Li Bin, the founder of Xunlu Intelligent Technology, a visiting professor of Shanghai Jiaotong University ( School of Design）, and the enterprise mentor of Shanghai International School of Chief Technology Officer, was invited to this event.
Intelligent Manufacturing Lecture
The first part of this activity was the presentation of SAIC-GM's digital system of lean intelligent manufacturing by Wu Weixing, a senior trainer at the SAIC Training Center, mainly including SGM Global Manufacturing System (CMS), Cadillac's Digital transformation planning, Cadillac's Digital transformation practice and Cadillac's digital supply chain.
Wu Weixing introduced the characteristics of Cadillac Factory, and introduced and demonstrated the intelligent manufacturing road, digital transformation road and the final intelligent manufacturing status and achievements of Cadillac Factory. In addition, factories have conducted fruitful practices and demonstrations on how to carry out intelligent manufacturing, such as the comprehensive application of digital and virtual simulation technology, digital empowering operation management and quality management, efficient intelligent equipment, intelligent integrated logistics warehousing and other breakthrough technologies. These technologies fully demonstrate the achievements of digital transformation. Students have a systematic understanding of Cadillac's digital intelligent factory, and discuss the reform and innovation system of intelligent manufacturing during the lecture.
Enterprise Pavilion+Brand Experience Pavilion
The second stop was the SAIC-GM Enterprise Hall. All MEM teachers and students visited the SAIC-GM Enterprise Hall. Through the explanation, they had a deep understanding of the brand history and culture of SAIC-GM and the innovation culture of the Pan-Asian R&D Center. The car models and process products displayed on the site comprehensively present Cadillac's innovative technology and its exquisite quality.
Cadillac Factory Production Line
During the visit to the production line, the students were led by their teachers into the all aluminum body manufacturing workshop of the production line of Cadillac Factory. There are two fully automated production lines for steel and aluminum in the workshop, achieving 100% automation of vehicle body connection technology. There are hundreds of robots on site, and many inspection and error prevention tasks are also completed by robots instead of manual labor, with a high degree of automation. The workshop adopts international advanced processes and digital technologies such as aluminum resistance welding, self tapping screw connection, self piercing riveting, aluminum laser brazing, which fully demonstrates the highest level of domestic luxury car body manufacturing process.
The final assembly workshop has applied the industry-leading system of AI&IoT(Artificial Intelligence & Internet of Things),at the same time, it produces flexible production of 7 models on mixed production lines. Each model has more than 20 configurations, more than 100 different accessories, and can be produced in an orderly manner through more than 6900 matching schemes. The factory also uses visual robots to scan orders. After scanning, the unmanned forklift will automatically go to the shelves to select materials based on the order and deliver the corresponding accessories to the workstation. Each production link on site fully demonstrates the intelligence and digitization of the production line.
Student interviews
After the on-site MEM classroom for science and technology innovation enterprises, we randomly interviewed three classmates to exchange their insights and inspirations for their future work after visiting and studying.The greatest harvest of today's visit is that the layout of the mobile line body model enables the factory to achieve flexible production, which can accommodate seven different vehicle models for simultaneous production, reducing resource waste caused by traditional line body replacement. In the future, when designing new workshops and factories, we can refer to the design concept of flexible factories to enable the co production of multiple products.
-- Huang Hejie,Student of 2023 CTO Advanced Class Student
The intelligent workshop of Cadillac Factory is a perfect combination of Lean manufacturing. The flexible production capacity of mixed line production of seven models fully reflects the superb degree of automation. It has greatly inspired one's work field. Next, I will consider how to learn and apply this lean production model in the medical production line.
--- Ke Wenhao,Student of 2023 CTO Elite Class1 1
The digital intelligent factory is using technology to create a bright future, allowing students to personally experience the innovative advanced intelligent manufacturing technology and lean production empowered by digital innovation. This activity has sparked students' self reflection and research. They realized that global thinking and strategic layout capabilities are the keypoint behind the digital empowerment of intelligent manufacturing. Only by continuously enriching and improving oneself can new research results be created.
