Meritor facility receives industry award for assembly line transformation

Meritor Inc.’s Lindesberg, Sweden, facility has received the Swedish Assembly Award 2016 for advancing assembly technology.

The plant, which manufactures front and rear axles, began a transformation in 2012 by installing two new lines for front and rear axle assembly. In the final stage of the transformation (2015) the plant consolidated production for all families of bolted carriers into a single, flexible, universal assembly line that utilizes smart sequencing and material flow enhancements. To accomplish this, the team simplified processes and replaced older, complex machinery with modern, easy-to-use equipment.

In evaluating the assembly line transformation, the Swedish Assembly Forum reviewed productivity, quality, and delivery performance and examined how each new change affected profitability. The forum, which includes 300 OEMs and suppliers such as Meritor, works with companies and universities to create research projects that help the local industry develop, share best practices, and inspire competitiveness and innovation.