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<\/a><\/p>\n“Our key objectives with the $1.05 billion investment in the Silverton Assembly Plant and our supplier facilities are to expand our production capacity, and to introduce the most advanced technologies and systems as we modernise our manufacturing operations to bring them in line with the best in the world,” said Ockert Berry, vice president of operations at Ford South Africa.<\/p>\n “Crucially for our communities, the higher production volumes mean more jobs, and we are delighted to add the 1,200 jobs that now fill the third shift from the beginning of September. We first ran three shifts and 24-hour production for a limited period in 2019 to meet higher volume targets, and we are delighted to reinstate this extra shift as a permanent fixture as we ramp up our production.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the additional shift, the Silverton Assembly Plant will be able to produce up to 720 vehicles per day, or 240 units per shift \u2013 which equates to one new Ranger coming off the line every two minutes, Berry said.<\/p>\n Two-thirds of the Rangers produced are exported to more than 100 global markets, including Europe where it is the top-selling pickup. The balance is sold in South Africa.<\/p>\n When the next-generation Ranger is launched in 2022, the facility will have an annual installed capacity for 200,000 vehicles \u2013 which is nearly double the 110,000 units it was capable of when production of the current Ranger pickup began in 2011, and a significant increase from the 168,000 units prior to the commencement of the latest investment.<\/p>\n Other upgrades\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Silverton plant\u2019s assembly line has undergone an extensive transformation focused on wide-ranging upgrades to modernise the facility, enhance efficiency and improve production quality throughout the plant.<\/p>\n Ford is currently constructing an all-new Body Shop and Stamping Plant on the Silverton site, along with a new in-house Frame Line in the adjacent Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ).<\/p>\n Most of the assembly line changes were completed during a strategic seven-week shutdown of the plant in July and August this year, with construction and engineering teams swooping in to remove the old equipment and install the latest technologies and production systems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “The seven-week shutdown enabled us to implement the largest and most comprehensive upgrade and modernisation of the Silverton Assembly Plant to date,\u201d said plant manager Tim Day.<\/p>\n “Our entire focus is on being world-class and comparable with the best Ford manufacturing plants globally. This is essential as we work towards delivering the required production volumes and achieving the highest quality levels for our customers.”<\/p>\n The biggest change has been a total redesign of the plant layout, Day said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe progressive evolution of the plant saw it growing organically over the years, which resulted in a less-than-ideal layout. Accordingly, we\u2019ve completely reworked the assembly line to maximise efficiency through the vehicle assembly and validation processes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve removed roughly a kilometre and 20 transactions out of the previous assembly line flow by eliminating the back-and-forth movement of vehicles within the plant during the various stages of production. This will result in all of the manufacturing processes and quality checks being performed in the zone where it\u2019s manufactured, contributing towards greater efficiency and more effective quality control before the vehicle moves to the next station.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n
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