Manufacturing waste generated by Iran Khodro Company’s (IKCO) car production lines, including body production, paint and assembly halls, has reduced by 60% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (March 21-June 21), according to IKCO’s vice president for manufacturing.
Alireza Bakhtazma was also quoted as saying by Donyaye Khodro that by halting incomplete car production, the manufacturing processes have improved, as any defect is identified during inspections and before the car is delivered to the sales representative.
According to the official, the elimination of incomplete car production has resulted in a 25% increase in the quality of IKCO’s products.
“Pre-delivery inspection has improved the quality of products and the results of customer surveys and evaluation of after-sales delivery confirm this issue,” he said.
“We are redesigning the production system and implementing more up-to-date standards in the manufacturing process, including 5S and a new logistics system.”
5S is a five-step methodology for creating a more organized and productive workspace: Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. In fact, 5S serves as a foundation for deploying more advanced production tools and processes.
Bakhtazma noted that the space around the production line will be freed, which will increase productivity by the end of the current fiscal year (March 20, 2023).
Referring to the summer break and production condition, the official said this season is the perfect time for renovating, upgrading and making changes in production lines, apart from undertaking the maintenance of equipment.
“As the maintenance and replacement of spare parts of equipment are very important, we prepare ourselves to achieve production goals in the second half of the current Iranian year,” he added.
Bakhtazma said Industrial Services Engineering Company of IKCO has also increased the security of transporting car parts to production sites by using an efficient transportation management software.
“This software will soon be used to increase the security of car transportation to dealerships as well,” he said.
IKCO Production Grows by 53%
With the production of 174,695 cars from the beginning of the current fiscal year (March 21) to July 11, the CEO of IKCO announced a 53% increase in the production of complete cars compared with the same period of last year.
"Delivery to customers during the period has reached 169,487 vehicles, registering a 30% year-on-year increase," Mehdi Khatibi was also quoted as saying during the meeting with the employees of TAM Company.
He also mentioned that during the same period, deeds were issued for 161,256 cars, which is 41% higher compared with the same period of last year.
"By producing 750,000 passenger and commercial vehicles this year, the production of complete vehicles will help save 70 trillion rials. In addition, it will prevent a decline in the quality of products and reduce social concerns among people due to the decline in supply,” he said.
"In addition to boosting the quantity and quality of our products, effective measures have also been taken for the development of new vehicles. The final products of two important projects, K125 and TF21, which are modern and well-equipped vehicles, will soon be added to the portfolio of Iran Khodro."
Stressing that the company has made significant achievements in the field of heavy and semi-heavy commercial vehicles, the IKCO chief said, “The plan to export 15,000 devices is also on the agenda of this year. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year [March 21-June 21], we have been able to achieve a growth of more than 2.5 times in the field of component exports compared with the same period of last year.”
Khatibi stated that reports received from the Iran Standards and Quality Inspection Company, or ISACO, show a 40% decline in customer complaints.
"The results show we are moving in the right direction, but we are not satisfied with the current situation and are trying to improve the quantity and quality of production," he said.
"Expanding cooperation with knowledge-based companies will speed up the development of Iran Khodro and TAM Company plays an important role in this field.”
Referring to social media criticism as fake, Khatibi said, “Some people create these contents to serve their own interests. They ignore the successes of the automobile industry and are pursuing their own vested interests by sharing these contents."
