With the increased model mix and flexibility requirements of vehicle assembly plants, complex engine and gearbox configurations are required.
Leidos Industrial Engineers developed our adaptive tooling system as a solution to this challenge. Our tools are removable to accommodate a much broader build mix. Our adaptive tool system was adopted by the Ford Motor Company as a global standard and part of the One Ford system to enhance efficiencies and economies of scale.
An additional economic advantage of this system is that it protects for future programs by allowing adaptive components to be replaced instead of entire tools, and enables new product trials and customer tryout without affecting the manufacturing process.
Various adaptive tooling storage solutions are available from manual to fully automatic storage and selection systems such as the rotating storage machine or ”paternoster” system shown below. This type of automated storage solution uses barcode readers for accurate identification.
