Skoda made another step forward in implementing Industry 4.0 principles into manufacturing at its Vrchlabí component plant: new parts for the CNC processing lines are now ordered automatically.
They are then transported to the CNC machines by robots guided by Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technology. B
Parts are now automatically supplied to the CNC processing lines in production. In the warehouse, logistics employees place the required components on a load carrier. Guided by IoT sensor technology, an automatic transport robot then picks up the carrier and takes it to one of the CNC lines.
On its return journey, the robot takes an empty load carrier with it and automatically reports back to the parts warehouse.
Due to the use of IoT technologies, the process allows for an automated, continuous supply of parts to where they are needed – further increasing manufacturing productivity.
Thanks to this system, the CNC machines are able to be supplied with more than 50.000 parts per day. And the costs of this automated process are expected to be covered in less than three years.
Vrchlabí site modernisation process started in 2012
In 2012, Skoda comprehensively modernised its Vrchlabí site and converted it into an advanced component plant within just 18 months. In 2015, Vrchlabí was named ‘Factory of the Year’ for its rapid transformation and dynamic development.
In recent years, Skoda has introduced numerous Industry 4.0 technologies and systematically developed Vrchlabí into a high-tech location. In 2018, for example, the manufacturer started to transport parts between its metrology centre and CNC processing machines using an automatic robot for the first time.
The component plant in Vrchlabí is set to be the manufacturer’s entirely CO2-neutral production site before the end of this year still. By far the greatest carbon dioxide savings were achieved by switching to using renewable energies. This reduced CO2 emissions from an initial 45,000 tonnes per year to currently only 3,000 tonnes.