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I never wanted to work at a factory, until I saw this place.
This is footage of Volkswagen's "Transparent Factory" in Dresden that I somehow missed the first time around, and folks, this place is mind-blowing.
You've never seen efficiency and technology like this. The parts are delivered via mass transit and delivered to the production floor by robots. The floor is beautiful Canadian maple, and yet it delivers electricity cordlessly to rolling workstations via induction. The power tools used by the workers count how many bolts they've installed, so you know exactly where you are in the build. Individual cranes suspend the cars at the appropriate height and angle relative to the height of the worker. It's so safe that car buyers themselves can freaking hop on the assembly line and help build the cars.
Comments
Yeah, I've been there on a guided visit, and the place is truly amazing. They build the one model only, the VW Phaeton, one of the most luxurious from VW there. The whole process is close to perfection, from ordering the car, through production, to the final delivery. Beautiful.
Ah, and you did not mention the architects: HENN Architekten, from Germany. They always build quality stuff....
Just think of the consumer relationship that VW is creating there with their product. Rather than the Phaeton being just a car to the owners, it is more akin to a child where the parent is involved in creating it. What a great concept. However, it can't come cheap...