Sustainable water use in production
Audi is committed to using valuable water resources responsibly across all its sites : The company aims to halve its ecologically weighted water consumption in production by 2035 . To this end , the four Rings in Neckarsulm relies on a closed water cycle using the Unteres Sulmtal Wastewater Association ’ s wastewater treatment plant adjacent to the site . New pipes and plant technology ensure that no more process water will be taken from the nearby Neckar canal . This will save up to 70 percent of fresh water from 2025 . Audi will further treat the water purified by the wastewater treatment plant with the help of filter systems and membranes . The process water then flows back into the treatment plant . Last year , Audi joined the Alliance for Water Stewardship ( AWS ), once again underlining its commitment to the economical and efficient use of water .
A high degree of automation for premium quality
Neckarsulm is the first site in the Group to install all add-on parts in the body shop fully automatically . In this way , Audi improves the fitting accuracy of the add-on parts and minimizes external influences . Seven robots are used simultaneously for the highly complex fender attachment alone .
As part of Audi ’ s “ 360factory ” production strategy , its supply chain relies on the smart , automated provision of materials . Automation roadmaps have been created for each location and are gradually becoming a reality . Neckarsulm was the first Audi site worldwide to put the freely navigating , driverless transport systems ( DTS ) into operation back in 2014 . With the start of production of the new Audi A5 , over 80 percent of the material volumes in the body shop are now provided automatically .
Virtually smokeless fixing is a world-first in car body construction . It involves attaching glued components , such as doors with small soldering points , to prevent the inner and outer parts from slipping . Previously , numerous soldered fixing points had to be cleaned , as smoke is corrosive . The new process almost eliminates residue build-up thanks to a rotating gas flow . Audi works more than twice as fast with the new method compared to previous techniques .
State-of-the-art quality monitoring in the body shop
Quality control measurements in the body shop are mainly carried out inline , i . e ., without removing a vehicle from the line . New measuring technology is used at two stations . Four robots at each station use measuring sensors to determine the components ’ dimensional accuracy .
The measurement result is evaluated using software , visualized , and made available to the employees . With this new technology , every vehicle produced can be measured directly on the line . Consequently , Audi significantly increases the number of measurements and can react faster to any deviations . Continuous , interruption-free quality control is also possible thanks to the high degree of automation .
Employees use innovative technologies such as augmented reality ( AR ) to inspect car bodies . An AR app on commercially available tablets with an integrated camera shows the connection points to be checked in real time . This makes it possible to check and directly document whether , for example , weld seams or points are present and executed according to target specifications . The increase in efficiency through digitalization is enormous . For example , inspectors once had to go to great lengths to determine the specifications for a bonded seam . With the tablet , this work is now done in just a few seconds .
Audi defines balance sheet CO 2 neutrality as a state in which , after exhausting other possible reduction measures with regard to CO 2 emissions caused by Audi products or activities , CO 2 emissions that are still present and / or currently unavoidable in the supply chain , production , and recycling of Audi vehicles are offset , at least in terms of quantity , by voluntary compensation projects carried out worldwide . CO 2 emissions occurring during the use phase of a vehicle , i . e ., from when a vehicle is handed over to the customer , are not taken into account here .
For further information , please visit www . audi . com
Issue 71 PECM 7