In context
In early 2023, automotive suppliers were increasingly turning to autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to automate intralogistics, driven by labor shortages and the need for flexible production. Forvia's deployment at its Faurecia Clean Mobility plant in Písek, Czech Republic, exemplified this trend, showing measurable gains in productivity and safety.
What was reported
Forvia, a top-tier automotive technology supplier, reported increased logistics productivity, improved production stability, and reduced safety risks after deploying a fleet of 14 autonomous mobile robots from Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) at its Faurecia Clean Mobility plant in Písek. The investment payback period was less than two years.
Seven heavy-duty MiR robots, mainly MiR600s, handle finished goods, transporting empty pallets to assembly lines and moving full pallets to logistics. Seven MiR250 robots move components from warehouse to assembly lines. The robots operate 24/7 across three shifts.
Previously, logistics relied on manual processes, forklifts, and stackers with no automation. Forvia aimed to automate the heaviest and most dangerous tasks to improve safety. The MiR Fleet software, combined with internal scripts, optimizes logistics flow and automates communication with doors, gates, and strapping machines. Future plans include integrating MiR Fleet with the company's ERP system.
MiR robots navigate autonomously without magnetic tapes or external guidance, recognizing and avoiding people to prevent bottlenecks. Benefits included improved safety by eliminating forklifts, increased productivity, and a return on investment in under two years.
“Mobile robots help us bring more discipline to the shop floor and make our production processes more stable and reliable, especially important is stability for operating all three shifts.”
Why it mattered
This case demonstrated that AMRs could deliver rapid ROI in automotive manufacturing while enhancing worker safety and operational flexibility. It highlighted the growing role of autonomous logistics in enabling stable, round-the-clock production—a key consideration for manufacturers aiming to remain competitive.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2023-02-14 · “Forvia increases logistics productivity with fleet of MiR robots”