How the transition to electric transportation impacts manufacturing companies

At the moment, when the transportation industry was reaching a steady point of maturity, the idea of electric powered transportation arrived and shook up the entire industry. The electrification of transportation affects many functions within manufacturing companies, both in terms of developing technologies and the speed at which they are developed. Companies must now be constantly adapting to this now ever-evolving industry whether it be in the engineering, manufacturing operation or procurement process. In order to navigate these changes with ease, it is critical that companies develop a strategy, to understand the speed of product evolution and how it impacts one’s factory and supply chain.

The development possibilities for electric vehicles are new and endless! Systems found in combustion engine vehicles, such as heating, air conditioning, and power steering, can no longer rely on engine power to operate; they will have to be reinvented, to be self-sufficient, and rely on electrical power to perform their tasks. These types of reinventions will have a direct impact on the engineering, assembly, and maintenance of these vehicles.

By introducing heavy batteries, the industry is having to rethink the weight distribution and fabrication for transit and recreational vehicle as weight reduction becomes even more important. These factors mean that developing electric vehicles will involve using new platforms, which will require considerable time and investment.

With a rapid increase in technology and digital connectivity in the maintenance and manufacturing of electric vehicles having electrical, electronic and software skills at all levels of a company is a valuable asset.

New systems and technologies mean major changes in manufacturing operations, assembly sequence and production equipment. Manufacturing strategies, therefore, must be adapted to consider these issues.

As this is a new and fast-moving market, companies need to develop agile, modular, and scalable manufacturing operations that can adjust to market trends, new customer demands and product developments. This requires continuous training and new approaches to evolve quickly as well as new parameters to established quality control in the factories.

As new technologies are embedded into products, many changes will follow with integrating new configuration into an assembly line, companies may not always be able to master this quickly. Therefore, they need to adjust their approach, thereby relying on a network of suppliers to gain access to the required expertise.

This also means, that subcontractors will have to innovate and reinvent themselves to develop new components that are compatible with eclectic motorisation. Finally, the electric and intelligent transport (EIT) sector will necessarily need to have a strong, qualified, versatile, and innovative workforce to continue to grow and maintain success. New key skillset, therefore, need to be developed, particularly in the areas of electrical, mechanical systems, mechatronics, embedded systems, and connectivity.

Changes is occurring to adapt to the new reality of electric transportation. If your company needs support in implementing an effective manufacturing strategy or to evolve your products, contact the experts at Merkur!

Join us on September 23^rd for our presentation on how the electrification of transportation impacts the manufacturing industry at the Impulsion MTL event.

MERKUR was founded in 1994 as an engineering consulting firm working for manufacturing companies inside and outside of Quebec. At Merkur we are known for our in-depth offers and our knowledge of small, medium, and large manufacturing companies. Here at Merkur we are proud contributors of innovation and productivity in Quebec, for over the past 25 years!

KHROME PRODUCT TRANSPORT is an integrated manufacturing company located in Drummondville Quebec, specializing in the design and manufacturing of interior and exterior train cars. Its strength lies in its strong engineering capacity and manufacturing agility. Among its main clients are Alstom, Bombardier Transportation and Kawasaki Rail Car.

SYNKRO is a software solution developed by Merkur and designed specifically for high-performance manufacturers. It collects, classifies, and distributes the right data to the right people at the right time. Synkro gives you real insight into your operations. Synkro is the software solution that finally connects your floor and your office!