OT : Porsche Factory on NatGeo
10-23-2009, 11:31 AM
#16
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Did a tour 2 + years back, boxer engines were done by one guy, for all stations, he moved with the motor down the line.
Did another tour in early Oct. this year, engine assembly has moved buildings in Zuffenhausen campus now one guy does just one step on the boxer motor assembly for 1.5 hours then changes stations, but only 5 stations total per day, so lots of hands build a single boxer motor now. Made me sad. :-(
Assume this happened when they changed buildings.
I did get to see 2 white cup cars coming together on the assembly line that day, it was interesting to see that the factory staff seemed to pay "extra" attention to those two cars on the line. :-)
Did another tour in early Oct. this year, engine assembly has moved buildings in Zuffenhausen campus now one guy does just one step on the boxer motor assembly for 1.5 hours then changes stations, but only 5 stations total per day, so lots of hands build a single boxer motor now. Made me sad. :-(
Assume this happened when they changed buildings.
I did get to see 2 white cup cars coming together on the assembly line that day, it was interesting to see that the factory staff seemed to pay "extra" attention to those two cars on the line. :-)
Regarding the single guy building, who cares as long as the underlying engine is engineered halfway decent. Which I think we can say was a bit of a problem starting with the M96's? Even a friend who just got Panamera training, I asked him about the 997.2 engine a couple of days ago and he just kind of shrugged and said "we'll see........"
10-23-2009, 02:03 PM
#18
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We did the extended tour in 1996 when they were building the 993's and I can tell you after watching the show last night that the building of 993's was much more hands on. I didn't remember seeing ONE robot in engine assembly. There were some robots in the plant, but not like now. The buildings pretty much looked the same as they did in the show, spotlessly clean and filled with a bunch of Hans and Franz's and a few Helga's thrown in for good measure.
10-23-2009, 06:34 PM
#19
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That was a great show. I guess the plant modernization is what the Japanese showed them. I was thinking of what we heard about the old days, too. Like one man putting the motor together himself. I think the new ways are what made them save money and survive, though. They were hurting just before the 993 came. It cost less than a 964 and was a lot more car.
10-24-2009, 02:40 AM
#20
Three Wheelin'
darn it all to hell, had to watch the 11pm showing and passed out on sofa halfway through.
Next showings.
Sunday 2am
Sunday 11am
Thursday 4pm
http://channel.nationalgeographic.co.../4545/Overview
dave
Next showings.
Sunday 2am
Sunday 11am
Thursday 4pm
http://channel.nationalgeographic.co.../4545/Overview
dave
10-24-2009, 09:35 AM
#21
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12% Helga's
I saw 100% Helga's in museum and Leipzig gift shop though.
They also said 3000 plus applicants each year for the 100 to 150 jounerymen apprentice openings they have. A 3-year program paid 1/2 by the government with an employment contract waiting for them when they graduate. No info on drop-outs along the way (if any).
10-24-2009, 09:48 AM
#22
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Who built my engine?
Interesting, that is a "selling point highlight" with other niche car makers. I think AMG, Aston, Bentley, and maybe few others still put "name plates" on their engines. So someone must care, but to your point, does it matter in the end to quality, longevity, costs. Most likely not.
