Information technologies in AvtoVAZ

2024: How AvtoVAZ is introducing robots for auto production

In August 2024, it became known that AvtoVAZ is actively introducing robots on its production lines to improve the efficiency and stability of car assembly.

According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the introduction of robots at AvtoVAZ is taking place in stages, starting with tasks that require high accuracy and stability. One of these applications is the use of a four-spindle nut, which simultaneously tightens four nuts to attach the wheel disk to the hub.

source = AvtoVAZ Press Service

Robots are also used to stick the windshield on Lada Vesta models. This operation has been automated for a long time and is an important part of the production process. Thanks to the robotic system, the width and thickness of the adhesive roller are stably controlled, which guarantees the durability and tightness of the joint, as well as the accuracy of the appearance.

In the period from July 29 to August 18, 2024, a corporate vacation was held at the plant, during which AvtoVAZ implemented over 10 thousand tasks related to the modernization and repair of production facilities. About ₽600 million were allocated for these works, which indicates the company's serious investments in the future of production.

The history of the use of robots at AvtoVAZ began back in 1978, when the first Julia robots appeared at the enterprise for spot welding in the production of the Niva car. Since then, robotization at the plant has developed significantly. In the mid-1990s, AvtoVAZ used Japanese Kawasaki robots to weld the bodies of the VAZ-2105, -2106 and -2107 models. By 1993, 230 domestic robots with manipulators used for various operations, including welding and glue application, were already operating on the production lines of the plant.

In 2024, more than 320 modern robots are involved in the production of cars of the Kalina family and other models, which perform a wide range of tasks, from welding and overloading parts to gluing ceilings on the conveyor. Robots have replaced humans in the most complex and time-consuming processes, which not only increases productivity, but also reduces the risk of human error.^[1]

2023

AvtoVAZ invests 1.4 billion rubles in the creation of an engineering school in Togliatti

AvtoVAZ and Togliatti State University (TSU) are creating an advanced engineering school of hybrid technologies (PISH) "HybridTech." The press service of the university announced this on December 11, 2023. Read more here.

AvtoVAZ switched to old IT systems after separation from Renault

AvtoVAZ, the largest Russian automotive company producing cars and light commercial vehicles under the Lada brand, in 2023 received a RFRIT grant of 496 million rubles for a particularly significant project - the introduction of a domestic system of design and technological preparation of production while maintaining the accumulated best practices. And the total cost of this project is 1.034 billion rubles. Alexey Gorbunov, Director of the AvtoVAZ Information Systems Directorate, at the Avtomashestroenie demodnoy Industrial Competence Center (ICC) in September, spoke about how the implementation of this initiative is progressing, as well as how IT was separated from the previous owner of the company.

Within the framework of a particularly significant project, the Dassault Systèmes software is replaced. As a product to replace it, T-Flex PLM from the Russian developer "Top Systems" was chosen. The start of implementation was given in June 2023, and it is planned to complete it by November 2025.

From the presentation of Alexei Gorbunov

As of September, the necessary organizational and documentary preparation was carried out, a survey of the enterprise processes for the project tasks was carried out and the first package of reporting documents for this stage was prepared. And to test conceptual solutions, a local infrastructure was deployed - several systems with existing functionality for testing certain conceptual solutions and the T-Flex PLM system.

AvtoVAZ plans to use the results achieved following the project not only at its central site, but also at its subsidiaries.

Until recently, AvtoVAZ was part of a global alliance of companies, and its task during that period was to switch to corporate standards of the alliance. As a result, AvtoVAZ used more than 200 foreign-made systems, but last year the company found itself in a difficult situation.

In May 2022, the French concern Renault for one ruble transferred its stake in AvtoVAZ, 67.61%, to the Research Automobile and Motor Institute (NAMI) with an option for six years. Now the Volga Automobile Plant fully controls the state.

In April 2022, AvtoVAZ launched an adaptation program, the purpose of which is to ensure the continuity of the company's business processes. At the same time, it was necessary to stop using information systems and services of foreign production and switch to Russian ones. In May, the company began implementing this program. The deadlines were originally designed for 2.5 years, but in November 2022, the former shareholder informed AvtoVAZ that a sudden and uncontrolled termination of services was possible.

In this regard, AvtoVAZ was forced to rebuild the work of the team and radically speed up work. In January 2023, the company expected a negative event, but it did not happen. However, the automaker has already managed to transfer all corporate and user data from foreign services to the territory of the Russian Federation. And in May 2023, an important milestone was passed - they made a physical exit from all foreign systems and services.

In full, we transferred the data to the territory of our country, lost nothing. To a certain extent, it helped us that historically AvtoVAZ did all the developments for itself, and we essentially switched to all the old developments. But the problem is that they are old, - said the director of the AvtoVAZ information systems directorate.

As of September 2023, AvtoVAZ is in the stabilization phase of these systems. And the next stage is the transition from stabilization to development, defining the target landscape and deploying projects to implement it. One of the risks - not in all areas in the field of complex engineering software there are Russian analogues, and it takes time to develop, test and implement it, Alexey Gorbunov shared.

As of September 2023, there are more than 300 systems in the AvtoVAZ IT landscape, not all of them are built on the most modern stack and require updating. A target replacement has already been selected for certain classes of systems, but many have yet to make a choice.

IT passport of projects in AvtoVAZ

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