ABB, the world’s leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth $52 million to boost the flexibility and efficiency of Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd.’s new production facility in Harbin, China. The robots will be used to make Ford’s new Focus model. ABB will provide robots including the IRB 6700 and IRB 7600 for Changan Ford’s new highly-automated “Body in White” welding production line. Included in the order is ABB’s GateFramer car body framing positioning system, capable of producing up to six vehicle models on the same line, with just 18 seconds needed to switch to a different model.

ABB robots at the new Changan Ford plant will bolster the carmaker’s flexible manufacturing allowing it to respond swiftly to changing consumer sentiment and demand while simultaneously reducing investment costs compared to traditional production lines. ABB has worked with Changan Ford since 2007, with ABB robots producing the joint venture’s Ford Mondeos at manufacturing plants in Chongqing. “Changan Ford and ABB have a longstanding relationship, and we are pleased to see ABB’s solid reputation for providing outstanding and reliable technology and excellent project management capabilities gain customer recognition once again,” said Pekka Tiitinen, president of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division. “Improving industrial productivity is one of the major drivers of ABB’s business growth under the ‘Next Level’ strategy. ABB’s flexible, intelligent manufacturing technologies help customers effectively reduce their investment costs and enhance their productivity and respond to the market needs in a timely fashion.”

The IRB 6700 robot family, a new generation of large industrial robots, was introduced to the market in 2013. More robust and 15% more energy efficient than its predecessor, its maintenance has been simplified, making it the highest performing robot for the lowest total cost of ownership in the 150-300 kg class. ABB also will provide Changan Ford with comprehensive and advanced Body-in-White solutions, including a flexible car body conveying system and laser welding system, as well as the robotic Roller Hemming system which is used for the production of the vehicles’ four doors and roof. ABB’s industrial robot technologies cover the entire automobile production process, including stamping, Body in White, painting, and powertrains.

Automobile customers include international automakers such as BMW, Honda, Volvo and Great Wall Automobile. ABB Robotics is a leading supplier of industrial robots – also providing robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells and service for tasks such as welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletizing and machine tending. Key markets include automotive plastics, metal fabrication, foundry, e lectronics, machine tools, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. A strong solutions focus helps manufacturers improve productivity, product quality and worker safety. ABB has installed more than 250,000 robots worldwide.

Every James bond fan eagerly awaits the next release for action and complete automated entrainment with gadgetry display.

In India this was also on display during this parliamentary elections; the worlds’ populist democracy using EVM (electronic voting machines and online registrations of voters, apps to identify the nearest polling booth etc) 007 promotes and executes automation in every possible way and brings enterprising spirit in taking benefit of automation either to nab culprits or kill his opponents. Every movie of 007 promotes automation to mitigate the risks and challenges at normal as well as adverse conditions. The business environments find similar situations in disguise of terminology like issues/challenges/market conditions etc.

What Bond stands for is courage, extremely high loyalty towards his employer, out of the box problem solving techniques benefiting from the technology. To achieve the expected out of the brand” Bond”, he undergoes fitness test before any new assignment, same way automation products must be courageous to manage the situations, loyal to the business owner and adopt new processes to de-risk and evolve beyond business challenges.

Automation product need to undergo security testing as today’s business reality of managing complex security issues of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and existence multiple software solutions, compliance requirements at customer and customer’s customers.

Every bond movie comes with different actors playing the same characters as per Bond series involved in solving different plot in every movie. Though, the actors are different but the character has a specific role to play. Similarly employees change at organisations but their profile remains the same. The employee is expected to deliver using the existing ecosystem. The customer aspiration changes with market dynamics like the plot of a bond movie but the business outcome remains the same – Profitability.

M of 007 (ERP/ALM/PLM) – Every automation product aims at removing the bottlenecks either from the human resource or the process point of view. But final authority to control the process lies with ERP, which may be already integrated with PLM or ALM. How well the product adheres to requirements of ERP provides insight of ROI. It would not be practical for the customer to have multiple databases due to automation there by creating company inside the company, complicating the decision making process based on bureaucratic system of using spreadsheets than online data.

In every plot of 007 “M” gives unconditional freedom to 007 to perform duties for his majesty; including license to kill. Automation products also need to provide process automation with respect to business goals of the customer including even license to question any bottleneck which includes the decision making as well.

Q of 007 (technology/platform) – This is the character that pioneers automation. Q enables 007 for every eventuality with precision automation which works effective and efficiently. Q also does live testing and showcasing before handing over the gadget to 007 to make sure effectiveness is not compromised on.

The customers aspires for automation product or platform to brings the umbrella cover to mitigate business risks and process challenges of today and tomorrow. Customers also expect solid testing of the solution well before the usage, like “Q” cares for life of the bond. Automation products need to follow live solid testing and showcasing to increase healthy business life.

Money penny of 007 ( Security software, BYOD, Cloud etc) This character of 007 makes every attempt to reach 007 at every possible location and arranges all his comforts – from air tickets, money to passports Automation product needs to integrate with every security application at customer place and provide passport window to integrate with upcoming security applications as customers will spend more and more on their data security due to emergence and acceptance of BYOD with organizations.

007 Agents- Group agents who also have license to kill for his majesty’s assignment. Customers will expect automation products or solutions to bring the utmost transparency in the system by which no hoarding of information which directly /indirectly effects the business health of the customer.

007 car (Pricing) – The automobile bond comes with the aspirational features and control mechanisms by which 007 can travel comfortably and help him to uncover the challenges. This automobile is made specifically for 007. Automation products need to optimise the investment of the customers on the solution and bring the risk mitigation at optimum cost which is directly proportional to business risks.

Skyfall brought generational shift in 007 ecosystem by bringing in new M and Q. The security software’s, emergency of cloud solutions and BYOD bringing the generational shift in business environment already. Customers expect their Automation solutions to be new 007 who is going to co-exist with new M and many Q’s.

Disclaimer: Views expressed above are the author’s own.