Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 13:49:17 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1680870@logan.com>
From: RWolf99@aol.com
Subject: Assembly Hours
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Seems to me a car is about as complicated as our airplanes, yet they are 
assembled in about 45 minutes.  Why can't we build airplanes that way?

Okay, I know that the car companies invest gazillions of dollars (or yen) 
making automated welding stations for welding up a car's "fuselage", but even 
looking at systems installation or firewall-forward, they make airplane 
factories look like pre-school.  (This observation is not limited to Lancair 
but pertains to all aircraft manufacturers, civilian and military.)

I understand that the Eclipse jet production line is being developed by one 
of the lead production guys from Toyota.  Maybe they know something we don't?

While this is not particularly relevant to the LML mail list, I'd also be 
real interested in ideas for streamlining an aircraft production line, since 
my present job will require establishing a small (100 per year) production 
line for a 4600 pound two-seat jet, and I'll be the first to admit that all 
my experience is in "onesie-twosie" stuff.  Please contact me directly on 
this.

- Rob Wolf