Lada granta
Lada Granta Lada Granta
Reach the standard
… So far, welded and painted “grant” cases are rarely found on the assembly line: they mix with hatchbacks and Kalina station wagons in a ratio of 1:20. In those days that we stayed at AvtoVAZ, we thus produced a batch of 60 cars (all of them equipped with 8-valve engines in the Norma configuration). And these are no longer “designers” for working out assembly skills, but quite self-made cars, only they will not reach customers. Some of them will go to dealers for test drives, the rest will go to sea trials.
Lada granta
Assembly line Lada Granta. Assembly line Lada Granta.
What is a "pre-production game"? In fact, this is the last test of the production complex for readiness for the commercial release of the model. It is at this stage that it becomes clear how precisely all technical processes are verified, the last adjustments can still be made … Actually, all operations have already been debugged - both those that are carried out automatically with the help of robots, and those that are done by the hands of workers. Now, according to experts, there is a “set of statistics” so that if any deviations from the norm occur, we could immediately respond to this. Therefore, the Kalin assembly line is still unusually crowded - along with the work shift, designers, technologists are constantly hustling here, high factory bosses are running in … But at the same time, there is no special fuss and nervousness on the conveyor belt itself - people are working fine, the speed of the line is not good too big. She is set to produce “total” 33 cars per hour. This is not much - according to plans, by March 1, it should reach its normal speed (60 cars per hour), for which the third shift is now being prepared. She will start work on December 1 - and let's go …
Lada granta
Installation of Lada Granta interior parts is in progress. It is very different from the usual Kalina salon. Installation of Lada Granta interior parts is in progress. It is very different from the usual Kalina salon.
Grant Project Director Oleg Grunenkov spends several hours a day on a conveyor belt. He says that the most difficult moment was to work out the supply and supply system for components, because now, instead of one familiar “Kalina” (although in two body styles), another model appears. Let it be “closely related”, but there are a lot of differences. The only thing that remained common was the “cage” of the body (floor-roof-door), everything else is new. Yes, and the same doors are now different: other windows are installed there, trim, etc.
Lada granta
Refueling with technical fluids. Refueling with technical fluids.
“Logistics has become more complex, but the system works without failures, and finished cars get high marks from quality specialists,” says O. Grunenkov.
And he tells “not on record” about how difficult it was with suppliers, because “him” Grant is obliged to become a landmark car for AvtoVAZ - primarily in terms of quality. The services of many familiar, almost-native suppliers had to be abandoned. Alas, they did not “reach out” to the high criteria of the Renault Nissan Alliance. They had to look for a replacement, first of all, among foreigners who either have already opened their enterprises in Russia, or are ready to create a joint venture with our companies. In contrast to the usual “viburnum”, the seats or power windows, heating and cooling systems of the engine became imported or especial at “Grants” …
Lada granta
The Lada brand will no longer be ashamed. The Lada brand will no longer be ashamed.
“We do not set ourselves the task of exchanging Russian suppliers with foreign ones, no,” the project manager assures. - We refuse the services of only those who do not want to develop, invest in the modernization of their production, modern equipment. If the supplier wants to develop, on the contrary, we will always help him. In a word, a new “pool” of partners has now almost formed. And we transferred the entire quality control system of manufactured products to their enterprises. We are now more important "input" quality control. If problems suddenly arise - our experts go to partners to help understand the reasons.
Lada granta
By the way, in addition to the “standard” (already) Renault standards, when evaluating quality starting from pilot batches, another Renault-Nissan alliance system is fully used - AVES (quality assessment through the eyes of consumers). This gives its results - they say that improvement in indicators is observed in each new batch …
Lada granta
What was confirmed by Hiditoshi Imazu, Executive Vice President, Production of Nissan, during his visit to AvtoVAZ in September.
“It is very important for the success of the future Grant mass model to ensure consistently high quality indicators from the first days of its release, so that it is well-established and has high demand,” he said. - This concerns the proper organization of technological processes not only at AvtoVAZ, but also at all its suppliers. As I was convinced, Togliatti took a very serious approach to solving this important issue. Changes in the quality system operating here and the results obtained give reason to believe that the goal will be achieved, and Lada cars will have a very good reputation in the market.
Perform roles
We were very interested - and how to punish a worker who directly allowed marriage? Fine, defamation, kicked out of work with shame? It turns out that everything is not so scary. According to the project manager, all the workers on the assembly line passed a training course before starting to assemble a new model, received certificates for certain operations, as well as personalized seals. So that you can track who and when "screwed up" (if this happens). And if at some stage violations of the process are detected, a team of specialists immediately rushes to the “debriefing”. Their task is not to punish the culprit, but to discover the essence of the problem and find ways to solve it. Although, of course, a material incentive is also present: if there are no complaints about quality, the employee receives in addition to the salary 34%. There are complaints - well, sorry, you have to try …
Lada granta
Check on all parameters at the stand. And the check is far from the last … A check on all parameters at the stand. And the check is far from the last …
In 2012, AvtoVAZ plans to produce more than 100 thousand Grant cars, and by the end of the year the ratio will change on the conveyor: at least one new sedan will have to go to Kalina on the line. However, the familiar Kalina itself will change as well - in the second half of the year it will be planned restyling. But this is a completely different story …
Lada granta
Before sending to the dealer - a few laps at different speeds on the track. How does the car ride, how is it controlled, how does it slow down? And then - a bon voyage! Before sending to the dealer - a few laps at different speeds on the track. How does the car ride, how is it controlled, how does it slow down? And then - a bon voyage!
“With the advent of the Grant, we hope to finally break the prevailing stereotypes about Russian cars,” said Igor Burenkov, Director of External Relations of the enterprise. - Our cars have indisputable advantages - price, cost of ownership, the possibility of service in any region of the country. And the buyers of Lada are by no means low-income people, but pragmatists who consider their money and want to get an excellent means of transportation for them. Where, by the way, there are all the necessary options for safe and comfortable trips.
Lada granta
Pre-registration for Lada Granta is open from September 7th. So far, cars will be sold only in Standard trim levels (229 thousand rubles) and Norma (256 thousand rubles). Within the framework of the annual Grand Prix of the magazine “Behind the Wheel”, five Grant cars will also receive our readers as prizes. Pre-registration for Lada Granta is open from September 7th. So far, cars will be sold only in Standard trim levels (229 thousand rubles) and Norma (256 thousand rubles). Within the framework of the annual Grand Prix of the magazine “Behind the Wheel”, five Grant cars will also receive our readers as prizes.
