Electrification Brings Changing Demands to Automotive Manufacturing

The central challenge around electrification in the automotive industry is “the challenge of transformation,” says Vaden Lillard, director of operations for ZF North America’s Gray Court, South Carolina, facility. “When is electrification coming?”

Lillard runs the Tier One supplier’s Gray Court facility in South Carolina, where for 12 years it has manufactured transmissions for internal combustion engines (ICEs) ranging from passenger cars to commercial trucks. Now, the company is in a transitional moment — it is continuing to manufacture ICE transmissions while at the same time producing these systems for hybrid vehicles, and while also looking to serve the emerging electric vehicle (EV) market with products including full electric vehicle drives (EVDs) and reducer gears.

To meet all these fluctuating needs, Lillard says the facility has had to fully embrace its identity as a “Flex Plant.” Its current mix of production provides insights into some ways that vehicle manufacturing is changing in light of electrification:

Greater precision. Electromotors operate at high torque and RPM; keeping an EVD running smoothly requires tight tolerances to maintain efficiency and minimize sound and vibration, which can translate into more stringent requirements for manufactured components compared to those for ICEs.

Higher levels of cleanliness. The electronic components of EV motors require a clean environment for assembly, which means greater attention to HVAC systems and air filters, as well as enclosing spaces, to control airborne particles.

More automation. Current assembly lines at ZF are about 33% automated; Lillard says that for the EV products, lines will be closer to 70% automated. The increase is partly due to workforce competition and the need to offset rising labor costs, but also because of the precision components involved and overall quality requirements.

Increased digitization. ZF has a team of four employees dedicated to digitization and is implementing efforts related to plant management and equipment maintenance. Adding new equipment to serve hybrid and electric vehicles has presented the opportunity to create digital twins of these machines, which will help in future planning.

3D printing to support “speed of change.” ZF relies on 3D printing for items such as robot tooling, but also finds this technology valuable for producing part stand-ins. As the manufacturing floor is reconfigured based on changing demand, 3D printed prototypes can be used to set up and test machines before the real parts arrive, saving time in this changeover.

Adaptability. The Gray Court facility currently manufactures eight- and nine-speed ICE transmissions and reducer gears for EVs; within the next few years it will add production of plug-in hybrid transmissions and full EVDs. It’s a lot to balance under one roof, especially as any changes to the floorplan have to be accomplished without disrupting ongoing production. But staying flexible will serve the plant well up to and through electrification.

“We wanted to leave ourselves available,” Lillard says regarding the setup of the facility. “We’ve put ourselves into a position that we’re ready for what the market asks for.”