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Success Failures
Automobiles are one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time. From the early days when cars needed to be started with a crank to today where GPS (Global Positioning Systems) are installed in many cars, engineers have been improving to make cars safer, more reliable, and more luxurious. The automobile is such an engineering achievement because of the breakthrough of the internal combustion engine, and the impact it has on our lives. Personal and commercial transportation would not be there it is today without the work of men like Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company), William Durant (General Motors), Ransom E. Olds (originated mass production techniques), and Fredrick William Lancaster (patented disc brakes). These men began one of the most innovative movements in engineering that is still progressing today. The first car was developed in 1885 and used a 2-cycle internal combustion to drive a 3-wheeled board with a seat and a steering wheel. The car was made up of about 400 parts were very easy to fix. In 1915, 1 million Ford Model T’s were sold for $290 each. Cars today are so technology advanced that the average car consists of about 13,000 parts and costs around $13,000. The Ford Motor Company now produces around 4.1 million passenger automobiles a year. The automotive industry uses many other great engineering achievements in the production of automobiles. Two of which are the Assembly Line (link) and Interchangeable Parts [1].
Assembly Line The assembly line was developed in 1901 by Ransome E. Olds to keep up with the increasing demand for automobiles. This technology enabled him to more than quadruple his output from 425 to 2,500 in one year. The evolution of the assembly line has been seen over the years. In 1908 Henry Ford added conveyor belts to the line, which reduced production time from a day and a half to ninety minutes. This also enabled him to cut the cost of the Model T to $290. As the technology increased and the engineers became more knowledgeable, assembly lines became almost fully automated and use manpower for just a few tasks. Computers are used not only to aid in the robotic assembly of automobiles and in other industries. They are used to simulate the lines and machinery to determine their efficiencies [2]. For Photos of Henry Ford’s Assembly Line: http://www.diamondial.org/rivera/anim/chasanim.html
NOV.
2, 1999 - Ford Motor's Volvo division recalled 122,660 of its 1998 model S70s,
V70s and C70s after customers complained
Description:
The rear of the center wheel section was painted causing a loss of
friction between the wheel centerpiece and the flange.
This enables the flange to rotate. In
some of the vehicles, the sleeves through which the lug studs pass were not
properly inserted in the wheels. Consequence:
The rotating flange can apply pressure against the cylinders causing them
to become loose. This can result in
a loss of torque for the lug nut, and consequently the wheel can loosen
resulting in loss of the vehicle.
These are just a few examples of small mechanical engineering failures.
In each case, the companies will take substantial losses in money to
correct a small mistake that was made during the design of the car.
Since most automobile recalls consist of small repairs, they all most
likely stem from the same mistake; overlooking the small details that don’t
seem like they will cause problems. These
small defaults in the engineering process may have large economic effects for
the company in the future.
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MARCH 10, 2000 - BMW's Rover Cars subsidiary is recalling 21,000 Rover 75 models
because of a possible engine sensor fault.
JAN.
20, 2000 – Daimler Chrysler says it will voluntarily recall about 490,000 Jeep
sport utility vehicles and about 162,000 Dodge SUVs to fix fuel and brake
problems. Daimler Chrysler said the Jeep recall affects 1992-1995 Cherokees and
1994-1995 Grand
operated in 15 states in the northern United States and Canada
where road salt is used to melt snow. The salt can cause the brake rotors to
corrode and crack. The company will replace the rotors with stainless steel
pieces.
NOV.
30, 1999 – Daimler Chrysler is recalling 136,500 Mercedes-Benz M-class sport
utility vehicles worldwide to check for a potential problem with seat belt
buckles. The problem can lead to the seat belts coming unlatched when put under
strain. The defect was discovered during Mercedes' own road tests.
Aug. 18 in Graz, Austria. The total cost of the
recall will be $6.7 million. The recall affects about 85,000 vehicles in the
United States, of which less than 1% are expected to require repairs for the
problem, the spokesman said. Mercedes-Benz USA unit is also recalling 4,400 of
its 1997 SL models to replace driver's side airbag modules.
the passenger-side air bag suddenly
deployed when they were washing their cars.
OCT.
15, 1999 – Daimler Chrysler recalled 417,000 1998 and 1999 Chrysler Cirrus,
Dodge Stratus and Plymouth Breeze midsize cars to check brake tubes that may be
worn by contact with an exhaust clamp. Reports of the clamp wearing a hole in
the right rear brake tube, causing a fluid leak and the loss of some braking
capacity.
about 3,700 1999 Plymouth Prowler cars for repairs that will ensure the
brake warning light works in case of hydraulic pressure changes. 
Make: