Automotive parts deployment system

A method of deploying automotive parts in a manufacturing facility, the method comprising:

• preparing a plurality of workstations, the workstations being configured to manufacture a plurality of vehicles of a first vehicle model according to a first predetermined production sequence and a plurality of vehicles of a second vehicle model according to a second predetermined production sequence;
• capturing identification information of automotive parts;
• storing containers for the automotive parts in a storage-retrieval system;
• during a selected block of time, identifying an inventory state of the automotive parts present in the storage-retrieval system and in transit;
• retrieving a plurality of predetermined automotive production sequences including the first predetermined production sequence for manufacturing the plurality of vehicles of the first vehicle model and the second predetermined production sequence for manufacturing the plurality of vehicles of the second vehicle model into a storage;
• based on the inventory state, determining whether a part is unavailable in a first parts kit associated with the first predetermined production sequence;
• determining whether to perform the second predetermined production sequence with the first parts kit in response to the part being unavailable;
• transmitting an on-demand request for the first parts kits in response to determining that the second predetermined production sequence can be performed with the first parts kit;
• controlling a first group of mobile robots to prepare a custom kit including, at least, the first parts kit;
• and
• delivering, with a second group of mobile robots, the custom kit to a selected workstation from among the plurality of workstations to assemble the plurality of vehicles of the second vehicle model, wherein the first group of mobile robots prepare the custom kit at a location different from the selected workstation.

An automotive parts deployment method comprising:

• preparing a plurality of workstations, the workstations being configured to manufacture a plurality of vehicles of a first vehicle model according a first predetermined production sequence and a plurality of vehicles of a second vehicle model according to a second predetermined production sequence;
• capturing identification information of containers for automotive parts;
• storing a plurality of predetermined automotive production sequences including the first predetermined production sequence for manufacturing the plurality of vehicles of the first vehicle model and the second predetermined production sequence for manufacturing the plurality of vehicles of the second vehicle model into a memory;
• during a selected block of time, identifying an inventory state of the automotive parts in a storage-retrieval system and in transit;
• determining whether a part is unavailable in a first kit associated with the first predetermined production sequence based on the inventory state of the automotive parts;
• determining whether to perform the second predetermined production sequence with the first kit during the selected block of time in response to the part being unavailable;
• in response to determining that the second predetermined production sequence can be performed with the first kit, controlling a first group of mobile robots to assemble a custom package including, at least, the first kit;
• and
• delivering the first kit to a selected workstation among the plurality of workstations to assemble the plurality of vehicles of the second vehicle model, wherein the first group of mobile robots assemble the custom package at a location different from the selected workstation.