Wayward Robots Slow Dodge Caliber Production

Calibers Success Exacerbates Production Teething Problems

What to do when your robots start bumping into each other? For DaimlerChrysler and its recently refurbished Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant, it meant shutting down the line to fix the problem, and that line just happens to be building its latest hit, the compact Dodge Caliber.

Its true, DCX dealers cant get enough Calibers to keep up with demand, and therefore any time wasted at the factory level is bad news for dealers and waiting customers alike. The problems stem from the body assembly robots, according to a report in Detroit News, which have been bumping into each other. All thats left to do is stop production for a few minutes or an hour at a time in order to readjust the machines, but with 780 ABB Asea Brown Boveri-built robots, it can be a seriously laborious prospect.

The German-owned domestic automaker overhauled the Belvidere plant last year to the tune of $419 million, transforming it from the Neon plant to one flexible enough to manufacture the new Caliber, plus the even newer Jeep Compass and upcoming Jeep Patriot.

Considering the plant can produce up to 1,050 vehicles per day if a full three shifts are working, the 800 per day its two shifts were building prior to the work stoppages already left dealers about 250 units short of potential supply.

DCX is ramping up to full production with a third shift now, and hopefully will have sorted out its wayward robot problem shortly.