Vehicle manufacturers tout advanced electronic amenities such as cruise control, parking assist, vision systems, and object detection through cameras and other products. Such electronics not only add convenience, but they also make driving safer. Given the dominance of Asian companies in consumer electronics, you might think auto manufacturers with North American operations turn to overseas suppliers. However, the reality is that many keep operations domestic with companies like , a Holly, Michigan-based automotive supplier that can produce more than 185,000 electronic products per week.
Magna might not be a household name, but it is one of the world鈥檚 largest tier one suppliers in the automotive space, with 174,000 employees across 351 manufacturing operations in 30 countries. In Season 3, of the of 鈥�,鈥� brought to you by Mazak, my son Max and I meet another father-son duo, Magna General Manager John Cunningham and Manufacturing Engineer Alex Cunningham, who give us an inside look at some of the company鈥檚 products and electronic manufacturing capabilities.
The episode starts with Max in the driver鈥檚 seat of a 2022 Toyota Tundra, where he tries to back up a trailer with and without the 鈥渢railer assist鈥� function developed by Magna. By feeding sensor information into a microprocessor, the trailer assist function automatically backs up a trailer, which is a godsend for those who do not back up trailers on a regular basis.
John and Alex then take us on a tour of the facility, starting with the surface mount technology (SMT) line that produces printed circuit boards (PCBs). This automated system places hundreds of miniscule electronic components with pinpoint accuracy at a 鈥渞idiculously high speed鈥� of up to 140,000 components an hour. Combining speed, accuracy, consistency, and manufacturing quality has enabled Magna to become a market leader.
The final stop on the tour was the manufacturing cell where Magna produces LiDAR components. Faster and more accurate than radar, LiDAR will be an essential component of autonomous driving. While the Manufacturing Explorers cameras were not allowed to show details, we walked away revved up about the future of automotive technology.
Buckle up and join us as we tour other innovative companies that provide high-tech parts and ideas to automotive giants鈥痠n the third season of the IMTS+ Original Series 鈥淢anufacturing Explorers,鈥� brought to you by Mazak, at .鈥疘n the鈥�, we visit to learn about lean design,鈥痑nd in the鈥�, we get to know , which developed a green process that enables a diverse and reliable supply chain for EV battery components.
