Tronserve News

TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Toyota's global output tumbled 50.8 percent year-on-year in April to 379,093 vehicles, as the coronavirus pandemic saw demand slump and global plants shuttered, the automaker said Thursday. Production in both North America and Latin America stood at zero in the recording period, Toyota Motor Corp. said, owing to plants in both regions being taken offline due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan's largest automaker by volume said that just 577 vehicles were produced in Europe, at a single factory in France, marking a 99.2 percent drop, as the virus' global spread shuttered operations worldwide. As for production at domestic facilities in Japan, Toyota said its output dropped 25.9 percent to 218,054 vehicles, owing to temporary closures of its plants here, amid falling demand and virus-triggered supply chain disruptions. Bucking the downward trend, however, the maker of the popular Prius hybrid and Corolla models, said output in China rose significantly in the reporting period, jumping 27.8 percent to 143,135 vehicles, as production in late March resumed. The Aichi Prefecture-based automaker said in terms of its global sales in April, virus-linked restrictions including stay-at-home orders contributed to a 46.3 percent decline to 423,302 vehicles. Sales in its North American market charted a downward trajectory, dropping 56.4 percent as the pandemic weighed on demand, while in Europe sales tanked 83.4 percent for similar reasons in the recording period, the automaker said. Domestic sales, also hit by slumping demand amid the government's stay-at-home requests, dropped 20.1 percent to 97,563 vehicles, in the recording period, Toyota added. Enditem XINHUANET

Other countries, as well as your competitors, are adopting new automation technologies that are allowing them to be more competitive. Look at automation concepts as an opportunity to keep yourself and company relevant.You won’t know if you have an aptitude for automation technology until you begin planning. Initial planning is as easy as determining whether your production line will be more efficient as a fixed, programmable, or flexible design.Before you begin talking to your IT department about communication interconnectivity and software and hardware from the Internet of Things (IoT), start by looking over your current manufacturing floor set-up and think like a machine designer.  Examine the efficiencies of your current system and look for bottlenecks. Encourage employees to share experiences and ideas for improving production line flow. Those on the front lines can provide a wealth of innovative ideas for creating automation efficiencies. Once you have an idea of the production areas in most need of improvement, then you can start to think about the machinery. For an optimal rate of return on machine expenditures, a machine designer needs to know the following before automation can be designed: Are products produced in units, batches, continuously, or in a mass flow?Will workstations operate synchronously or asynchronously?What is the total number of workstations needed?What is the available manufacturing space? This will dictate machine layout—linear, rotary indexing, or both?  Once these questions are answered, the machine design will fall under one of these three categories: Fixed or Hard Automation Fixed automation equipment produces a large volume of the same product day in and day out. There is a fixed sequence of operations that does not require customization. Operations are directed by the layout of the machinery and components. Pros —Typically, a fixed system is a lower cost option when compared to programmable and flexible machine builds. Fixed automation offers improved product quality through consistency. Fixed equipment operates at a fixed high speed which increases production rates.4. When using fixed equipment, ROI is positive due to a lower unit cost for each piece sold. Cons — The fixed machine layout is inflexible, so design alterations are costly and time consuming.Programmable AutomationProgrammable automation is for the manufacturer that requires a flexible production line for batch runs. This system allows for machine reconfiguration or reprogramming for different product specifications. Computer numerical control (CNC) automates machine control through software and is an example of programmable automation. Pros — This system is more flexible than fixed, therefore provides for some product variables. This system is designed to run several dozen to over 1000 units.  Cons —  For product variables, system software and equipment re-configurations can still be time consuming.With programmable equipment, upfront costs are higher than with general purpose machinery. Flexible or Soft Automation An extension of programmable automation, this system allows for even greater flexibility in running batches with less lost time. With this system, you will typically see cobots and robotic arms with a variety of grippers.Pros — Small batches can be created with minimal machine downtime.Continuous production is enhanced by in sequence product variable programmed adjustments. Cons —  This system requires the most upfront investment.Components must be incorporated that allow for quick changes, such as, a robot arm that requires logic controllers, sensors, and lasers.Skilled labor will be needed for parts changes, programming and maintenance. No matter which system you choose, all your innovative ideas for new automation must work within the context of your organization and budget. But your pre-planning was not for naught. You’ve started the journey. You’ve calculated the benefits of automating your production line and are ready to begin implementing changes. Automation doesn’t have to be all or nothing; it can begin in increments. If you’re just starting to grasp the concepts from the IoT, don’t feel like you must start with a huge machinery update. Narrowing down your needs and starting slow will help keep development and testing manageable. This will also give you time to ingest and digest the new manufacturing technologies. You may be surprised at how quickly you catch on.  AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES 

SEOUL --  KT, South Korea's largest telecom company, has dispatched an artificial intelligence-based autonomous concierge robot to a hotel in Seoul to provide convenient services in place of human workers who should bear the burden of rushing through corridors to deliver food and amenities at the request of guests."N bot", an artificial intelligence (AI)-based autonomous concierge robot, was first showcased at this year's MWC, an annual mobile communication device and technology fair, in February. In a showcase event, the telecom company used "GiGA Genie", an AI voice assistant platform, to order room services.KT said in a statement on Monday that the commercialized service of N bot began to provide convenient accommodation services at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences in Seoul. Hotel guests can order food and amenities by using a GiGA Genie panel installed inside the room's wall. The AI voice assistant platform supports four languages -- Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. When an order is made, N bot will navigate around the hotel using its 5G connection and 3D-mapping technology to pick up and deliver food to a designated room. One robot was deployed at the hotel to cover about 100 rooms. It will use passenger elevators to move between floors."We think that a single N bot will be able to cover 100 rooms. We plan to add more if necessary," KT's PR assistant manager Shin Ji-won told Aju Business Daily. She said the concierge robot will mainly carry out chores such as delivering towels and food. The use of service robots at South Korea's service industry has increased thanks to the establishment of 4G and 5G networks that seamlessly connect services robots to control towers.In December last year, Yujin Robot, a local industrial and commercial robot maker, partnered with the robotics wing of Hanwha Group to jointly develop automatized service robots for factories, hotels, hospitals and restaurants. Yujin Robot's service robots have been deployed at hospitals to deliver medications to patients.Woowa Brothers, the operator of South Korea's popular food delivery service app Baedal Minjok, has launched a waiter robot rental program for restaurants with Dilly, a food delivery robot that can carry food to customers and return dishes and trays back to the kitchen. The on-road food delivery version of Dilly, deployed at a university campus in Seoul for a test project in October, can deliver 12 drinks or six sandwiches at a time.SOUTH KOREA'S LARGEST TELECOM COMPANY

Jabil Inc. announced February 3 that they would consolidate their healthcare holdings into a single organization, Jabil Healthcare. The new company will combine Jabil’s Nypro company with Jabil’s other healthcare businesses, including its spine, trauma, and orthopedics operations.The resulting conglomerate will combine Jabil’s services in the fields of medical devices, orthopedics, diagnostics, pharmaceutical delivery systems, and consumer health. The newly created company is called Jabil Healthcare. It involves 35 locations and employs almost 20,000 people.Steve Borges, the CEO of the new company, said that “by harnessing the power of the Jabil and Nypro teams, we are in the unique position to accelerate technology advancements and augment the value we bring to our customers, their patients and the healthcare industry.”According to Jabil, the new organization of its healthcare holdings will enable its clients to access “deep, cross-sector” expertise in various manufacturing techniques, including sensor integration, injection molding, additive manufacturing and electronics.One of Jabil’s partners, medical-device manufacturer Elvie, says that kind of organization is a boon for business. “Working with a partner like Jabil was so important to us because their healthcare experts understood which emerging technologies from other fields could be readily applied,” said Tania Boler, CEO and founder of the company, which manufactures breast pumps.“With the rise of digital health and additive manufacturing, the time is right to unite our diverse capabilities and domain expertise under one strong brand,” said Borges.Jabil Inc., based in St. Petersburg, Florida, employs more than 200,000 people.JABIL HEALTHCARE

This year, Samsung Electronics shares hit an all-time high—rising more than 60% since the start of 2019. The rise has been fueled by optimism about the turnaround of prices for memory chips, a market the South Korean tech giant dominates as the world’s top producer.While memory chips remain crucial for Samsung—which has a wide range of businesses including smartphones and theme parks—the volatility of their prices is prompting the conglomerate to diversify its semiconductor business. The company aims to create another major revenue stream as the smartphone market, where Samsung is the world’s top producer, appears to be saturated and stagnant.The Suwon-based tech company is spending billions to strengthen in other areas of semiconductors—the sector powering the likes of artificial intelligence and 5G as well as a myriad of devices. Decades ago, Samsung’s late founder Lee Byung-chull made a big bet on semiconductors that helped boost the fortunes of the company and his family. His son Lee Kun-hee was ranked No. 1 on the most recent list of South Korea’s 50 richest people with a net worth of $16.8 billion, while grandson Jay Y. Lee was No. 4 with $6.1 billion.In April last year, Samsung announced that it plans to invest a total of 133 trillion won (about $116 billion) over the next decade into two areas: system LSI (non-memory chips, like application processors) and foundry (contract chip manufacturing).For a conglomerate with a total market cap of roughly $330 billion, Samsung is making a huge investment that has analysts questioning whether the company can capture market share from entrenched competitors Qualcomm and TSMC, the leaders in mobile processors and foundry, respectively.Mobile ProcessorThe world’s biggest smartphone maker can cut costs and improve efficiency by using its own processors for its Galaxy devices. Samsung has the third-largest market share in the mobile processor market, with 16% in the third quarter last year, behind Qualcomm’s 31% and MediaTek’s 21%, according to a report by IHS Markit earlier this month.Samsung gained market share from Qualcomm by using its own mobile processors for its own devices; according to the IHS Markit report, Samsung used Exynos chips for about 75.4% of Galaxy devices, up from 61.4% in the previous year.But that won’t be enough. The Korean company needs more external customers, and to do that, it needs to compete with Qualcomm’s better-performing Snapdragon processors, which are used in high-end smartphones.Even when Samsung makes mobile processors as good as Snapdragon chips—which Roger Sheng, research vice president at Gartner, expects will take at least 3 years—the biggest smartphone makers already use their own chips. Apple has its own A-series processors, and Huawei is also increasingly using its Kirin chips, according to the IHS Markit report.In fact, Vivo is the only major smartphone maker currently using Exynos chips, notes Sheng. Vivo uses Samsung’s chips as it has a long business relationship with the Korean company, says Sheng. Plus, the Chinese smartphone maker needs an alternative to San Diego-based Qualcomm. “If there is only Qualcomm, it will be very difficult to negotiate the price and make differentiated products,” he explains.And the trade tensions between the U.S. and China helped Samsung increase its sales to Chinese smartphone makers. “Vivo will continue to use Qualcomm and MediaTek, but has likely added Samsung to diversify away from Qualcomm during this unpredictable trade dispute between the U.S. and China,” says Phil Solis, research director at IDC.“The situation the U.S. put Huawei in has caused Chinese OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to be cautious for the long term when it comes to relying too heavily on U.S. chip suppliers,” he adds. Since last year, the U.S. government has blocked Huawei from buying American-made technology for national security concerns.Other major Chinese smartphone makers include Oppo, a sister brand of Vivo, and Xiaomi. Both companies are considering using Exynos chips, but they have not decided yet, says Sheng.FoundrySamsung’s toughest challenge will be in the foundry market, which is dominated by TSMC. According to TrendForce data, the Taiwanese chip maker holds 50% of the market share, while Samsung’s is about 20%.TSMC has built a considerable lead in foundry since it was established by its billionaire founder Morris Chang in 1987. It is miles ahead of Samsung in terms of technology and production capacity—and has no plans to slow down. Last year, TSMC spent a record $15 billion on technology and capacity in 2019—about 50% more than originally planned. And earlier this month, the company said it will increase capital expenditure for 2020 by $1 billion.Plus, Samsung has a unique disadvantage. The conglomerate competes with potential clients of its foundry in other areas, like smartphones and processors. Other major foundries, including TSMC, focus solely on its foundry business.Qualcomm, for example, recently shifted its flagship Snapdragon processors from Samsung to TSMC. And Qualcomm is planning to use TSMC again for its latest flagship Snapdragon chips this year, reported Korean magazine BusinessKorea last month.“Qualcomm would have been a major customer, but it shifted away from Samsung’s foundry to TSMC’s because of the conflict of interest where Samsung would have access to a competitor’s intellectual property,” says IDC’s Solis.While Samsung faces an uphill battle against TSMC, the $70 billion foundry market may be big enough for the two to have sufficient business. A variety of companies need foundries for everything from smartphones to servers to sensors—and TSMC, no matter how big it is, can’t make them all.“It seems to be that there is enough room for Samsung,” notes Solis. “TSMC will be making the vast majority of 5G chipsets for Apple, HiSilicon, MediaTek, Qualcomm and Unisoc as well as chipsets for AMD—who is gaining share against Intel—so TSMC’s capacity will be filled up.”Bottom LineAlthough the sprawling conglomerate has a tough task taking on market leaders in mobile processors and foundry in the near future, its track record in LCD display, television and mobile phones show Samsung has beaten the odds before.SOUTH KOREAN TECH GIANT 

SEOUL -- To help pedestrians travel safely on sidewalks, a district office in Seoul has started the test operation of designated parking zones for electric scooters and other shared or last-mile mobility services that often have been left lying haphazardly on the ground, causing inconveniences.Last-mile mobility service startups kick-started their businesses using electric scooters in Seoul and its satellite cities with some 60,000 scooters in 2016. According to the Korea Transport Institute, a state-funded research institute, some 220,000 last-mile service scooters will carry people nationwide in 2022.The Seocho District office in southern Seoul said on Monday that it has designated some 50 places in areas busy with on-foot traffic such as around subway station exits.Last-mile mobility services are popular in office districts and populated areas in Seoul because of cheap fares and accessibility. Users can search and pick up nearby scooters equipped with GPS using smartphone apps and leave the two-wheelers wherever they wish to after using them.Used scooters have become obstacles on sidewalks as they are left strewn on the ground until service trucks retrieve them around midnight for charging. Some are left untouched for days as the operation of scooter-retrieving trucks is limited.There are about seven last-mile mobility service startups including Hyundai Zet, the last-mile mobility platform service wing of Hyundai's auto group. Hyundai Zet began its service in the central city of Daejeon with about 100 electric scooters in 2019. They were provided on the campus of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), a prominent state research institute. About 100 won ($0.085) is charged per minute with a basic fare of 1,000 won.The global market is projected to reach $500 billion by 2030, according to global market research company McKinsey & Company.Last year, Hyundai made strategic investments in two promising start-ups -- Chinese e-scooter maker Immotor and Mesh Korea, an IT-based logistics startup that established South Korea's first last-mile mobility network -- to develop smart delivery solutions. The auto group aims to introduce innovative technologies such as unmanned delivery vehicles by combining smart car technologies such as autonomous navigation.The carmaker also revealed an innovative last-mile transport in August last year. A prototype for a vehicle-mounted electric scooter unveiled by Hyundai has a unique tri-folding design. It can travel up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) at a top speed of 20 km per hour. Hyundai said the scooter would be available as an option for Hyundai and Kia cars from 2021.ELECTRIC SCOOTERS

TOKYO--Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd has developed a stereo camera that enables Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) at intersections relying on stereo camera alone by combining distant object detection with wide angle view, and without millimeter wave radar.As automobiles continue to expand globally, there is a growing need for technologies that enhance driving safety, particularly at intersections. As of 2020, the NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) will include Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) among the criteria in their leading automotive safety performance assessment.Sensor technologies with horizontal, wide angle view are necessary to detect pedestrians to avoid accidents when an automobile turns at an intersection. To achieve this, it is essential to continuously detect vehicles ahead, and also required are a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) with consistently high pixilation, the camera sensor, or a combination of multiple sensors, including a radar which detects objects in the surrounding area or in the distance.With this newly developed stereo camera, Hitachi Automotive Systems has increased the range of detection by widening the horizontal range of the stereo camera relative to conventional stereo cameras, and has adopted a method to shift images detected by the left and right cameras. This delivers an angle of view three times wider compared to conventional stereo cameras, and enables Automatic Emergency Braking when turning at intersections while still maintaining the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) which employs compatible distant object detection without the need for a large increase in the number of sensor pixels compared to conventional stereo cameras.The technology to change detection methods in the center and periphery parts of the detection range was developed in collaboration with the Hitachi Ltd R&D Group. Highly accurate detection and range estimation of pedestrians and cyclists improves safety at intersections while relying only upon the stereo camera, a minimal amount of components. This is achieved by seamlessly integrating a number of features including centralized binocular detection through binocular vision, three-dimensional object detection through time series image processing provided by monocular vision in the periphery, and storage of identification patterns using machine learning methods.HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE

Maximizing personal and team productivity demands notable efficiency. Ensure that these practices get your attention: Leverage technology Embrace and promote new trends, devices, and software as they appear. Let your workers use their own devices for business purposes if they desire. Why don't you benefit from a productivity source you don't have to pay for? For the time being, give instant "anywhere" access to workplace information. Let staff members work from alternate locations with Wi-Fi when it's workable. When a member of my office manager's family is ill, it is easy to allow her work from home for the day, and so she can still be productive. With Wi-Fi, Evernote, and all the snazzy apps we have access to, employees can tap into work information despite whenever they are. Give them a dependable, reliable way to share ideas and communicate, allowing more flexibility and change-responsiveness. Set and track efficiency goals Once you've pared your thoughts down to size and set goals with your team, set specific schedules for achievement. As it is with any project, break expectations into controllable pieces, each with its own milestones and due dates. Once you've achieved a goal, re-tune and set a new one. Measure everything You can better influence things when you can understand them, and so pay attention to all the metrics that matter for your team. Use an accountability system, project management software, SharePoint, a common spreadsheet on Google Docs, Outlook Task Assignments, or a scoreboarding system that keeps track of important team metrics. The systems you use could possibly be off-the-shelf or proprietary; it doesn't matter as long as you use them consistently. Brainstorm regularly Meet with your team from time to time to give eachother ideas on how to achieve your strategic priorities and improve processes and procedures. Try to get areas of overlap and remove redundancy. Talk about what your team is doing that is lacking value. Remove steps that not more apply when something changes, and make certain each person documents everything, so new people can get up to speed quickly. Remove your thought filters and let your ideas cross-fertilize to see what kinds of interesting hybrids result. Give consideration to concepts from other fields, and how they might apply to yours. What would you like to do if it were possible? The benefits of consistent training For your staff memebers to be productively efficient and effective, they need the right tools. This is a vital return on investment (ROI) tactic. Some personnel need blazing-fast computing power; others need smartphones and tablets that let them work on the go; still others might require specialized instruments to maximize their performance. Whatever the case, each of them need consistent training, undertaken as often as necessary to stay ahead of the changes rolling through your field. None of us wants to spend money if they don't have to. But remember, in business, what matters is not what you spend now, but how much money you make afterwards. You have to make short-term investments for long-term gain. It's all about ROI. Done correctly, training produces the extraordinary levels of ROI you need to stay ahead of the game. This article is originally posted on bizjournals.com

BitTitan, the global leader in managed services automation and developer of MigrationWiz, announced it has bolstered its sales team by hiring Kevin Serpanchy as sales director of the North and South American regions.“BitTitan is an industry leader founded on technological innovation in cloud tools and services”With extensive global experience providing content, SaaS, cloud, and IT solutions to academic, government, and corporate channels, Serpanchy will provide leadership to BitTitan’s world-class Americas sales team and identify opportunities for driving sales growth. In addition to collaborating with the company’s leadership team to develop and execute the Americas sales strategy, Serpanchy will also work with partners such as Microsoft and Google, as well as managed service providers.“Kevin is a proven and passionate leader who is well-versed in the needs of global customers looking to fully leverage cloud technologies,” said Tony Rummans, BitTitan vice president of global sales. “As more companies turn to cloud solutions to enable remote work, Kevin’s demonstrated history of delivering technology solutions in various industries, including the higher education vertical, will help BitTitan meet customer needs to accelerate migrations to the cloud. We’re thrilled to welcome Kevin aboard.”Serpanchy spent the past 15 years with educational technology company ProQuest, where he worked as senior sales director for the federal government sector across the U.S. and the academic sector in North America’s southern region. Before returning to the U.S. in 2017, Kevin led the ProQuest Asia Pacific south region sales team in Melbourne for 11 years and spent two years in Dubai managing the EMEA sales team.“BitTitan is an industry leader founded on technological innovation in cloud tools and services,” said Serpanchy. “I’m beyond delighted to join such an innovative company with a strong, collaborative culture. I look forward to working with the BitTitan team to help IT professionals and managed service providers be more efficient, profitable and successful in the cloud.”AiTHORITY

The ChallengeAt BMW’s only U.S. manufacturing facility in South Carolina, the company boasts unsurpassed quality and a high level of reproducibility when it comes to manufacturing and assembling every component, from the engine down to aesthetic details like trim. When it comes to trim, badges, emblems, and alignment, in particular, the company uses highly custom fixtures in the production assembly process. However, CNC machined tools that mate up to the complex curves of a car surface are very costly to produce, especially in lower volumes, and require long lead times.To create conformal tools at a lower cost, BMW began incorporating 3D printing and urethane casting into their tooling assemblies in 2016. However, by creating tools that were a mix of multiple manufacturing processes, engineers began to spend almost a quarter of their work time, or 10 hours a week, sourcing parts and managing vendors. Tooling Design Engineer Ryan Lambert began searching for a multi-process manufacturer who could create short-run or one-off parts for their custom fixtures and win back time wasted on sourcing administration.Creating Custom Fixtures with XometryLambert soon found the Xometry Instant Quoting Engine? and uploaded and quoted his custom parts in multiple manufacturing processes. Xometry’s vast network of manufacturing partners provided a single-source platform where BMW could quote and order a specialized automotive assembly fixture in minutes.For the parts of the fixture that hold and apply trim or decals directly, Lambert used Xometry’s 3D printing service. Manufacturing the fixture with additive processes like SLA, SLS, and FDM allows for the creation of specific geometries to securely clamp, plunge, and depress the trim by holding it flush against the curves of the vehicle. Previously, a nonconformal CNC machined part was held at a distance, which could cause imprecise applications. Using 3D printing also helps make the tool lighter by replacing formerly machined parts with an ultralight infill plastic.To build alignment tools, Lambert designed tools that combined 3D printed, CNC machined, and carbon fiber parts. These tools align various sections of the vehicle during assembly processes up to hundreds of times a day. By using 3D printing and carbon fiber, the part is reduced in weight by 25-50% and decreases worker fatigue from lifting heavy tools hundreds of times a day.A Xometry-manufactured fixture used for alignment of the vehicle back end during assembly processes. This collection of parts is traditionally machined, but with Xometry, it can be quickly and cost-effectively produced with carbon fiber tubing, CNC machined plastic and metal parts, and 3D printed Ultem components.A Xometry-manufactured assembly used to measure the displacement of car parts. The assembly comprises machined parts as well as stock hardware.The BMW team also used Xometry’s urethane casting capability to create fixture body housing. Manufacturing low-volume tool housing in molded urethane offers a more durable and cheaper solution than CNC machining, and also allows the design and manufacture of a custom geometry that fits with other custom components. A Xometry-manufactured fixture used for the assembly of electrical components in hybrid electric vehicles. The assembly consists of a mix of urethane molded parts and CNC parts and is produced cost-effectively in one-off or with short runs“Xometry is so great for BMW because I can go and upload my full assembly for my custom tools in one upload and then configure the unique material and process for each part.”—Ryan Lambert, BMW Tooling Design EngineerAnother key benefit of Xometry to Lambert and his team was the ability to talk to Xometry engineers and ensure the parts were optimized for manufacturing. “There’s a great team at Xometry that has supported me through all my projects, whether it's design or material suggestions or catching an issue before it goes to manufacturing,” says Lambert.Faster, Cheaper, More Reliable Custom Solutions with XometryThe multi-material, multi-process fixture assemblies that Lambert designs and manufactures with Xometry have been successes since the company began working with Xometry in 2016. Since Xometry can source components to multiple manufacturing partners across its network—partners who specialize in 3D printing, CNC machining, and urethane casting, respectively—it can provide BMW competitive market rates that save the company up to 25% on custom fixtures. And through its vast range of manufacturing options, Xometry allows BMW to test new production solutions without being limited to the processes offered in-house at BMW.With Xometry as a single-source supplier that manages each of its partners, BMW engineers can now return up to 10 hours per week lost to sourcing back to value-added activities like design and testing. Tool reliability has also increased, with the rate of application error decreasing from 10% to under 4%. This is the result of having tools that are now 25-50% lighter, meaning workers can now lift them hundreds of times a day with steady hands.“Xometry delivers ease and professionalism. They take care of fulfillment so I don't need to juggle or manage suppliers. We buy the quote, and Xometry takes care of the rest.”—Ryan Lambert, BMW Tooling Design EngineerAs an automaker at the forefront of vehicle innovation and customization, BMW is pleased to work with Xometry for its various custom manufacturing needs. Xometry’s manufacturing and sourcing services allow BMW to produce the high-performance and stylish product its customers have come to know and love. Continuous work with Xometry has led to efficient tooling production to scale up other BMW facilities globally and for retrofitted tools for new car derivatives.XOMETRY TECHNOLOGY