case study-AS/RS introduced as a painted vehicle body buffer system to improve productivity Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M; headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra) manufactures sport utility vehicles (SUV) and light commercial vehicles (LCV) and other vehicles. In June 2013, M&M introduced a unit load AS/RS as a painted vehicle body buffer system at Nashik Plant. The buffer system stores painted vehicle bodies temporarily and sequences them by retrieving in assembly order so that various types of vehicles can be assembled in one line. The buffer system enhances productivity in supplying vehicle bodies to the assembly line and drastically shortens cycle time in production. In addition, assembly parts, which were previously dispersed throughout the facility, are consolidated into one location next to the assembly line in the now open space created by installing the AS/RS. M&M, a core company of the conglomerate Mahindra Group, was founded in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohamed, a steel trading company. In 1947, Mahindra & Mohamed changed its name to the current Mahindra & Mahindra and entered the automotive manufacturing business when they started the licensed production of the Jeep. Now, M&M operates six plants in India. The Nashik plant, which began operations in 1980, produces five types of vehicles, including main models Scorpio and Xylo, with an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles.

AS/RS introduced as a painted vehicle body buffer system to improve productivity

Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M; headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra) manufactures sport utility vehicles (SUV) and light commercial vehicles (LCV) and other vehicles. In June 2013, M&M introduced a unit load AS/RS as a painted vehicle body buffer system at Nashik Plant. The buffer system stores painted vehicle bodies temporarily and sequences them by retrieving in assembly order so that various types of vehicles can be assembled in one line. The buffer system enhances productivity in supplying vehicle bodies to the assembly line and drastically shortens cycle time in production. In addition, assembly parts, which were previously dispersed throughout the facility, are consolidated into one location next to the assembly line in the now open space created by installing the AS/RS.

M&M, a core company of the conglomerate Mahindra  Group, was founded in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohamed, a steel trading company. In 1947, Mahindra & Mohamed changed its name to the current Mahindra & Mahindra and entered the automotive manufacturing business when they started the licensed production of the Jeep.

Now, M&M operates six plants in India. The Nashik plant, which began operations in 1980, produces five types of vehicles, including main models Scorpio and Xylo, with an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles.

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