New Volkswagen Modular Production System

Abstract

[EN] In the global automotive industry, it is more difficult to stand out above the competitors. Advances technology designs and production systems increase performance but more difficult to manage. The automakers research and invest continuously, to innovate, improve and optimize the techniques employed in the manufacture system. They must find solutions to respond to the market needs and at the same time allows them to get a good profit margin. The modular assembly has been the strategy most employed to achieve these goals. This approach is being increasingly used by industry, in the last decades all automobile brands have implemented the modular production techniques. In 2012, Volkswagen was the company that stood out above the rest with its new MQB platform, which will standardize modules and production systems across the brands of VW group. Its acronym from words in German, Modularer Querbaukasten, it designates a platform of automobile used for the B, C and D segment cars with transverse front engine and front or integral traction. The principle is simple: unify the systems of production of various models and brands of the automotive consortium. Thus several objectives are met at the same time, since costs are lower cheaper and processes uniform. One of its greatest achievements: the creation of a chassis of varying measures, allowing adaptation to different models. Standardizing parts and processes promises great benefits to the auto industry, not just in terms of reducing costs and streamline production. Volkswagen bets on the harmonization of its plants around the world and will expand its range of offerings, adapting to the demand for product. With this platform, VW completes the list of existing modular platforms for all vehicles of the brand. This text discusses the new modular strategy developed by Volkswagen, it will explain the ideas and concept that this manufacturer will introduce in its models and in the assembly plants. Thus it is a new strategy, there are few technical details that VW has published, but it can be said that it will produce great benefits to them. This paper 2 complements the work written by Javier Tejedor Pascual, which explains the theoretical concepts of the strategy of the modularity in the history of the industry. This paper is going to divided in 4 chapters- All production systems that have caused major changes in the automotive industry are discussed in the first one. In the second chapter, a brief introduction will be theoretical background on the basis of modular production. The two last parts refer to modular techniques that are implemented with this revolutionary platform, taking on the one hand everything to do with the design and the other on the production system