STUDY ON APPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

Abstract

The manufacturing industries are undergoing phenomenal changes all across the globe. Competitive pressures and market dynamics urged the manufacturing processes to enhance their productivity and performance. Moreover, crucial need to reduce the cost and maintaining the high quality standards is raised by customers. The role of automotive sector is highly significant in growth of the emerging economy like India. Industrial Managers, Policy makers, Practitioners needs to be on forefront to adopt these technologies. However, implementation of AMTs is quite cumbersome and require sincere efforts from all the stakeholders. Though all the sectors of economy are facing above mentioned scenario. However automotive sector has more challenges due to its fast growth especially in emerging economy like India. In the past three decades’ Indian automotive sector has grown many fold in terms of customers, volume, models and exports. The sector has adopted several Advanced manufacturing technologies like Industry Internet of things, Industry 4.0, and Artificial Intelligence etc. Despite many folds growth there is further need to adopt new technologies. Therefore, the purpose of present study is to examine the implementation of AMTs in automotive sector. This study is organized into eight chapters. First chapter deals with the introduction of AMTs. Second chapter deals with the literature review. Third chapter deals with the research methodology. Fourth chapter deals with the justification of Advanced manufacturing technologies using the methodology of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Fifth chapter with the Prioritization and evaluation of barriers intensity index for advanced manufacturing technologies implementation using AHP and Graph Theory and Matrix Approach (GTMA). Sixth chapter deals with the Prioritizing of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for implementation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies using Fuzzy Topsis Approach. Seventh chapter deals with the real case studies which helps to validate the findings with the vii help of SAP-LAP Approach. Eighth chapter deals with the discussions and the last chapter deals with the conclusion and implications. Major research findings reveal that adopting AMTs results in reduced wastage and optimum utilization of resources. Moreover, it helps to enhance operational performance and organizational excellence. Barriers to adopting AMTs were assessed using the GTMA approach. The barrier intensity index was evaluated. It was analyzed that finance and economic barriers had the highest intensity of barriers. The second highest barrier category was operational and strategic barriers. Moreover, the topmost CSFs were found to be strategic planning for implementing AMTs and top management commitment. Top management must conduct training and educational programs so employees feel comfortable using AMTs. Furthermore, the case study was analyzed using the SAP-LAP approach to analyze major contributing factors toward AMTs implementation.