In setting up its X-Type production line, Jaguar Cars awarded the contract for all robot end of arm tooling, clamps and all pneumatics equipment to just one company.Unveiled in the summer of 2001 to critical acclaim, Jaguar Cars launched its X-Type model to the public. Built at Halewood in the UK, the car benefits from being manufactured on a totally new production line. Even the body assembly shop and FTA (final trim and assembly) are brand new.
But what other methods does Jaguar use to stay ahead of the competition?
Like many automotive manufacturers, Jaguar is finding it increasingly important to maximise quality throughout the production line process, and is always striving to reduce costs, without compromising on quality.
One way of achieving this is to reduce the number of suppliers, and to work more closely with those that remain.
In what is possibly the first of its kind in the automotive industry, Jaguar awarded the responsibility of supplying and managing all robot end of arm tooling (EOAT), clamps and all pneumatics equipment on the production line to just one company.
Traditionally, two or more suppliers are used - one for the EOAT and clamps and one for the pneumatics.
It makes sense to combine these three areas of the business and employ a sole supplier, as so often EOAT, clamps and pneumatics equipment are integrated together - one cannot function correctly without the other.
Jaguar awarded the sole-supplier contract to global pneumatics expert Norgren.
Most of the work is focussed in body and assembly, although Norgren is also the sole supplier of pneumatics in the paint shop and FTA.
Steve Hawkins, sales director of the Automotive and Transportation Division at Norgren, said: "Jaguar preferred us to our competitors because we could offer the manufacturer a 'one stop shop' for all its process needs.
In addition, Norgren is the only pneumatics company that has a worldwide team dedicated to the automotive industry and associated technologies.
Indeed, Norgren employs staff that spend all day every day working with the automotive industry and nothing else".
Norgren provides both components and technical support - the latter really adding value.
For example, when choosing which robots to use for handling the body panels, all Jaguar had to do was supply a CAD file of each panel.
Norgren then calculated what each EOAT had to do, and designed the mechanics, electronics and software accordingly.
Because Jaguar handed over this responsibility, Norgren was able to use its expertise in selecting the right equipment for the right job.
The company liased with machinery manufacturers around the world to make sure all the pneumatic products and systems were as identical as possible.
By maximising the number of common parts, less spares stockholding was required, reducing storage space and ultimately cost.
Expertise in proportional pneumatic valve technology brought by Norgren was also put to good use in BIW by designing and building a control panel that maintains accurate pressure of 'grip' during the welding process.
Elsewhere, air preparation equipment was extensively used in paint spray applications and FTA.
Core product ranges supplied by Norgren included pneumatic valves, cylinders, weld-resistant tubing and air preparation equipment, and also EOAT grippers, clamps and gantry systems.
The production line for the Jaguar X-Type was installed in the early part of 2001, and Norgren has been working closely in the project since the end of 1996.
By working together from such an early stage, the two companies could match their best engineers to ensure that all of the process strategies, appropriate technologies and commercial factors necessary for long-term success were properly considered, evaluated and implemented.
This programme management strategy meant that every aspect of the project - from concept to installation - could be continuously monitored by Norgren's project managers and design staff.
To ensure the project was as successful as possible, Jaguar asked Norgren to make a number of clear commitments.
Norgren's input did not finish when the equipment had been installed and commissioned - there is still a full-time Norgren manager employed at the plant to seek continual improvements, helping to drive down costs.