An Automation Update and BMW Plant Tour event set for March 26 and being sponsored by the Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association is now just weeks away.
To register for the event, click here.
Participants will tour the Joint Offices of Tunkers North America, SAR Automation, Murrplastik and B&K at 520 Brookshire Road in Greer, South Carolina near Spartanburg, as well as the BMW plant body shop. Organizers are recommending early registration as this event has sold out quickly in years past.
The registration fee, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments, is $95 for GAMA members and $190 for non-GAMA members.
All registrants will be transported to and from the BMW Body Shop via buses provided by GAMA. Registrants will be assigned to groups of 20 each and must stay in this same assigned group throughout the tour. Groups will rotate among numerous different workstations with assigned BMW representatives and audio headsets will be provided.
Shoes that enclose the foot (closed-toed) are required (i.e. no open-toed shoes, clogs, sandals, etc.). Long pants are required for men and women.
The day’s schedule, which is subject to change, at this point includes:
- 8:30 a.m. — Registration & Networking at Joint Office facility
- 9 a.m. — Opening Remarks and Overview – GAMA
- 9:15 a.m. — Introduction of host companies: Tunkers, SAR Automation, Murrplastik, and B&K
- 9:30 a.m. — Proposed Presentations on “Automation Best Practices” including: Agile Manufacturing in High Volume Production – Dr. Stefan Baginski of BMW; Laser Brazing Technology; Automation Innovations; Manufacturing 4.0; possible BMW speaker on Advantages of Standard Framing; and possible others yet to be determined
- 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Buffet lunch served, and ongoing demonstrations by Tunkers, SAR Automation, Murrplastik and B&K. Luncheon Keynote Speaker – to be determined
- 12:30 p.m. — Assemble participants and assign groups for transport to BMW; Depart for BMW Body Shop
- 1 p.m. — Arrival at BMW Body Shop
- 1:15 p.m. — Tours begin of Body Shop – groups of 20 each – simultaneous tours among numerous workstations
- 3:45 p.m. — Return Departure for Joint Office facility
- 4 p.m. — Continued demonstrations & networking; Refreshments
- 5 p.m. — Meeting concludes
BMW Manufacturing set a new production record in 2019 with a total of 411,620 X models produced at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, continuing its reign as the company’s largest plant by volume in the BMW Group’s global production network. It was the 25th year of production for the plant and its third to produce more than 400,000 vehicles.
