Thanks to re-utilising a production Flatbed Laser Machine in our Product Development Manufacturing Centre (PDMC) aka. Whitley Toolroom, our teams have seen some brilliant time savings and quality improvements when it comes to producing prototype parts.
Across Product Engineering, we are working hard to deliver on time, to quality and to cost for our fantastic customers. As we move from our virtual phase to our physical phase for upcoming architectures, we will soon see a significant amount of prototype parts being produced ready for testing.
Our Whitley toolroom teams have taken on the challenge to find ways to improve their processes and one such has been implementing the use of a Flatbed Laser machine. Our Whitley toolroom teams have taken on the challenge to find ways to improve their processes and one such way has been to re-deploy and commission a Flatbed Laser machine to serve Product Development activities.
The Whitley Toolroom team is responsible for manufacturing critical prototype components and support BIW (BODY IN WHITE) & T&F (Trim & Final) Prototype Vehicle Builds (X1-VB), Research & Development, EDU (Electric Drive Units) build and test, Battery build and test and Prototype BIW fixture manufacture.
Previously the team have needed to outsource laser cutting activities, which comes with time and cost constraints. With a light bulb moment and some maths around how much it would cost to laser cut in-house, the team have been able to procure a new laser cutting machine, leading to much welcomed cost, time and quality improvements.
The new Laser Machine will allow the team to cut batches of sheet metal components (blanks) and press form or fold them into shape in a matter of hours and days, rather than weeks and months.
In other words, they are now retaining value and will be able to fully deliver on commitments quicker.
The team estimate that this new workflow will lead to a cost saving of over £45,000 per year, and significant time and quality improvements.
We pride ourselves on facilitating the delivery of prototype vehicle builds for the Product Development phase as we engineer the modern luxury cars of the future.
This laser machine will allow us to continue supporting teams across Product Engineering with increased efficiency, a substantial cost saving and further benefits for years to come.
Steven AdamsSenior Engineer, JLR
The team are also conscious of the part they can play in helping JLR realise our sustainability ambition of achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2039.
A piece of software on the laser machine, called Radan, enables blanks to be nested in the most efficient manner, reducing the waste produced. Furthermore, any waste that has been produced is recycled as well.
A huge well done to the team at the Whitley Toolroom, we look forward to seeing more of the impact this change in process will have. For more information on everything above, please contact Ashley Wilson (awils130).
