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Fork truck free (FTF) initiatives and operations are the standard in North America and Europe since 2015. FTF initiatives allow for the streamlining of operations in the automotive and other heavy-duty industrial sectors. The result is the ability to consistently and predictably keep operations functioning at optimal levels. Due to this infrastructure support, AGVs can be evaluated as part of an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metric to calculate the overall operational utilization of facility, time, and material. The collaborative relationship between the companies’ manufacturing engineers and AGV subject matter experts are essential in implementing turnkey systems which increase productivity and flexibility, and safely reduce operating costs. For decades, automated guided vehicle (AGV) technology has delivered materials handling and logistics solutions to the world’s largest and most sophisticated automotive companies. Automotive manufacturers have embraced the lean principles of advanced logistics and manufacturing solutions. Automotive companies and their Tier 1 suppliers recognize the need for partnership in the AGV industry. AGVs ensure continuity and performance for the duration of their life cycles. These mission critical operations impact material flow and production scheduling. Often running three shifts, automotive manufacturers and their top suppliers require access to highly trained technicians who understand the intricacies of lean logistic solutions. These experts bring 24/7 knowledge to understand the cost-efficiencies of AGV automation. The automotive industry was quick to recognize and harness the power of AGVs to maintain a competitive advantage in a truly globalized market. Automotive manufacturers require state-of-the-art automated processes with non-stop delivery of parts and supplies to production lines. FTF optimizes material flow by ensuring the proper delivery of parts at the right time with the right product on the production line. Conventional fork trucks are labor intensive, dangerous, and fail to utilize best-practice automation technology. Cumulatively AGVs substantially improve output, throughput, and […]