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Risk Management in Automotive Manufacturing: Stop Problems at Their Roots

Automotive manufacturing operations face risks that sometimes go unaddressed leading to missed production targets, safety incidents and vehicle recalls.

What can negatively impact your business are the continuous threat, safety hazards, and aging assets. Moreover, security issues can impact revenues, plants, intellectual property, employee performance, vehicle quality.

Efforts towards managing and preventing risks can keep your business as well as your reputation intact along with StickerLookup controlled industrial automation infrastructure.

How Risk Management Can Assure Safety and Quality

Focusing of Three Types of Cs

Since safety is the key for any business to continuously scale, still many enterprises see it as an exorbitant affair to make. A survey was made and found out that best-in-class manufacturers defined top 20% of aggregate performance scorers found to achieve higher OEE and less unscheduled downtime and less than half degradation in the performance (Aberdeen Group Research).

Hence, the most common and best practices used to offer best in class safety were grouped into three Cs,

Culture
Compliance
Capital

These contemporary safety measures can help stakeholders to avoid shutting down machines for safety reasons during the occurrence of any issue.

Get Better Visibility through Quality

Businesses are processing to deliver the quality customer are looking for, hence automotive production works on increasing targets and workforce to improve quality.

With the help of real-time information visibility, one can maintain quality. This can be implemented through modern manufacturing execution system (MES) software. This software can improve quality management while reducing process variability by harnessing the long-buried data.

Moreover, you can fetch new insights into your processes, production events, and quality information. Many companies use MES within applications as an error-proofing, allowing you to create an enforceable workflow allowing you to verify workers and building vehicle assemblies and sub-assemblies to specification which again improves your first-pass quality.

Assessing Assets and Risks

Software outdate is one of the major issues and reason behind downtime and deprived productivity. The best way to deal is through proactive life-cycle automotive risk management. This identifies outdated software that can cause serious risks and facilitate easier Maintainance of legacy equipment in order to access the spare parts.

Start your assessment with assets. An experienced engineer can help you by collecting the baseline of hardware and software data.

A base evaluation service is available to install for more efficient results. It collects and aggregates the data obtained from all sources and provides a report which in turn guides dealing with critical existing risks.

In-Depth Security

A securely to and fro of data from one machine to another gives you the power to say connected. Be it any place or any context, you feel safe, which any enterprise can achieve through three easy steps.

Assessment of your security ecosystem is the first and the foremost aspect to comprehend for potential risks and vulnerabilities. Identifying any and using the right techniques to mitigate them can allow you to bring the operation to a substantial level.

Second, is the adoption of a defense-in-depth approach for utmost security. Adopting this approach helps you add multiple layers of protection through addressing six levels of security such as physical, policy, network, computer, application, and device.

The third and final is partnering with a trusted partner that can offer reliable and robust automotive risk management services. They share your security goals while taking the necessary steps to address complete security inclusive of security training to employees and the products supplied.

To Conclude –

Since hackers have gained new and improved ways to get into systems, never stopping to create problems in automotive operations. We have also emerged with better and robust ways to deal with them. Automotive risk management efforts were originated to mitigate those risks, leveraging current investments and resources, while protecting people, business, and reputation.

How to Quickly and Accurately Identify Vehicle Specs by VIN Decoding

A very essential 17 characters known as VIN, stick on four-wheelers is the key to every information about them.

Did you know that, VIN wasn’t 17 characters long always? Before 1980 the VIN was nearly 11 characters long. The way people today can easily decode the VIN, it wasn’t easy to find your entire vehicle’s information.

Today, with the help of VIN number decoder software, one can easily have all the features within minutes. Also, you can take a peek into your vehicle’s history.

Not just mid-sized, small, or large-sized four-wheelers have VIN encoded to check their features. Two-wheelers, like motorcycles, have their VIN encoders to decode.

Let’s clearly understand why and how is VIN important for your vehicle?

Identifying the Need of VIN and Its Use

It’s very well-known that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been formed for the welfare of the people.

They look out to people and to make sure they are safe on the roadways. Thus, they have set certain rules for the citizens that drive as well as the makers of the vehicle.

Putting VINs on each vehicle is an important rule, which is followed by all vehicle manufacturers worldwide.

But, why is it important to put VIN on each vehicle?

These characters are a mix of digits and alphabets, which help to keep track of the number of vehicles manufactured each year. It helps law enforcement agencies to help the citizens at the time when any vehicle gets stolen, damaged, or illegally modified.

So, when you get back your stolen car, you should know that your cops have found it through your VIN.

What’s with this VIN? The 17 character on your vehicle is the unique identity of it. These characters are just like an encrypted code which can be decoded with the VIN number decoder to identify your vehicle specs.

Every digit and alphabet in VIN has its importance and meaning. Thus, 17 characterscontain a lot of information about your vehicle that you would not have even imagined.

The vehicle identification number has a specific format that is recognized globally after the format was implemented by ISO.

There are various benefits of VIN, among which is, knowing the market value of the vehicle, whether it is used or brand new.

You can know vital information, like manufacturer, year of production, the plant of production, type of engine, model, and much more about the vehicle.

The VIN is defined as a specific format imprinted on vehicles. The ISO institution implemented this format, which was recognized globally. Thus, every car manufacturer is obliged to mark those 17 long characters in the same special format.

Can you know all the features of your grandfather’s car through VIN, I am afraid not. The cars that have been manufactured after 1981 will have the VIN with all the information about it. Any paid or free VIN number decoder works best with the vehicles post-1981.

The 17 Long Characters Meaning

To understand VIN, let’s divide it into three sections.

These sections are divided into –VDS, VIS, and WMI.

So,

WMI or the World Manufacturers is comprised of the first three characters.

The first digit means the country of the manufacture.

The second alphabet means the vehicle manufacturer.

The third alphabet means the vehicle type or the division.

The second section is VDS or the Vehicle Descriptor Section consisting of the next five-character, from 4-8.

These five digits and alphabets display the vehicle’s brand, body style, engine brand, engine style and type, the model of the vehicle, series, and many other features.

The third section, VIS or the Vehicle Identification Section contains nine letters and alphabets, from 9-17.

The Ninth alphabet/digit means the security check digit.

The Tenth alphabet means the model year of the vehicle.

The Eleventh alphabet means the assembly plant.

The last six digits, 12-17 display the serial number of the vehicle.

So, if you want to decode your VIN to know your vehicle’s specs quickly and accurately, read next.

Learning to Decode the VIN Code

As we already know that VIN is encoded on every vehicle that contains specifications about the vehicle.

So to decode the VIN, you need to find a good VIN number decoder website. But, to get relevant information, make sure you have a safe and secure VIN decoder website.

Many VIN decoders will offer you a free platform to check your vehicle’s features. You may also find many paid decoder sites.

However, if you pick paid websites, you may even get a history of your vehicle.

All you need to do is manually type down the 17 characters on the space provided and click the Decode button for the report.

So, when you decode the VIN what all vehicle history do you get?

You will get the number of vehicle owners, duration of ownership, registration details, city, and state of registration.
The report will also show possible problems, ranging from salvage reconstruction to Lemon check.
You will also get records related to loan/sale events.
You will also get the list of accidents ever reported or occurred with the exact dates and possible severity of damages.
The report will also contain pending or existing recalls like safety-related issues & defects.

To decode the VIN, you must find out where you would find your VIN on your vehicle.

Locating your VIN

In your car, you may find the VIN on the dashboard of the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Or, you may find VIN on the driver’s side door and look around the door latches.

One more place where you can VIN is the insurance cards and vehicle’s title.

To Conclude –

Decoding your vehicle’s identification number is easy. All you need is to locate the place where the VIN is imprinted on your vehicle.

When you decide to buy any vehicle, you would want to examine the entire vehicle. Knowing the specification gives you confidence about your choice. Also, it tells you that the manufacturer is trustworthy.VIN Number decoder tells you the history of the vehicle and finds out whether the manufacturer has issued a recall and where those issues were resolved or not

Collision Avoidance Systems That Are Changing the Future of Car Safety

There are numerous driving and safety tips out there to prevent road accidents, but as long as human interaction is involved in controlling the wheels, it is a bit hard to control the accidents on the road. This is where technology comes into action. These are helping to make up for human errors through sensors, automatic braking, smartphone connectivity, and many more. All these features define the collision prevention score and the safety of a vehicle.

Here is some of the major collision-avoidance systems that we are hoping to see in every vehicle in next few years. Many of these are not only safer, but also more convenient for the driver:

Adaptive Cruise Control

Rather than maintaining the same speed in the car, adaptive cruise control adjusts the speed of your car on the basis of other vehicle’s speed in front of you. This also releases you from managing the speed of the car whenever traffic slows. Although, this feature is mainly available in luxury vehicles, but it is expected that soon it will be available in all types of vehicle.

Automatic Emergency Braking

According to various reports, rear-end crashes are the most common type of collision reported in the North America. With the help of collision avoidance systems, almost 50% of these accidents can be prevented, according to IIHS. Even in cases where AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) failed to prevent a collision, it reduced the severity enough to reduce the number of injuries.

AEB is one of the most advanced features in the cars that helps in preventing a collision by automatically applying brakes when the driver fails to heed all warnings along with making the vehicle eligible for collision safety ratings. Although, this feature is not a standard equipment on most vehicles, but can now be found as the option on many mainstream vehicles.

Lane Departure Warning and Prevention

Lane departure only alert the driver with beeps or by vibrating the seat wheel, in case the car is drifting out of its lane. Lane departure prevention or assist will try to steer a vehicle back into its lane. Quality and capability of these systems is dependent on the car and its manufacturer and it is available as a standard or optional feature on nearly all new vehicles.

Blind Spot Warning

If you find difficult to see if there is a vehicle next to you when changing lanes, blog spot monitoring is the solution for you. This helps you see vehicles that you might not be able to using mirrors only. If there will be a vehicle in your blind spot, a monitoring system will alert you with a warning light. According to an IIHS study, almost 14% lane-change crashes have been reduced through this feature and because it is an optional feature, you should go for it because it is not as expensive as other collision-avoidance systems.

Things You Should Consider While Purchasing an Auto Insurance

Almost every car owner buys an insurance as a formality. They don’t even give it a second thought on which one will be appropriate and cover maximum risk. Many of them take insurance on the basis of premium amount, as if it is the sole deciding factor. This could easily mean not having adequate protection cover during a disaster.

It would be wise to go online to compare sundry insurance products of different companies on several parameters – like auto insurance ratings. Not just that, you should also be aware of all the facets of auto insurance before finalizing a deal.

Therefore, it is very necessary for you to give the same amount of importance to the insurance that you give while to the car itself. Here are some of the factors that you should ponder while buying an auto insurance:

Third Party Insurance

Opting for a third party insurance is very crucial in terms of covering the risk. It will offer you a cover against damages caused to any third person, vehicle, or property. Although, this insurance will not cover the damages caused to you and your vehicle, but it will ensure that you don’t need to pay anything for the third party damages. So, if you are buying a vehicle for the first time, make sure to get third party insurance before driving it on the roads.

Seek for Comprehensive Cover

A comprehensive insurance covers the damages occurred during the accident to you as well as your car. It also protects your vehicle from incidents like fire, theft, etc. Do not overlook comprehensive cover for saving on insurance premium costs because third party insurance will not cover any damages for your vehicle or self. Moreover, you can also go for add-ons to get the optimum protection – like 24*7 roadside assistance and zero-depreciation.

Personal Accident Cover

Personal accident cover ensures protection against any physical loos or disability during a car accident. You can also get this cover for other passengers in the car on the basis of your car’s seating capacity. Taking multiple covers can be a big burden for your pocket, so, you can look for an insurance inclusive of all these amenities. Going for a single insurance policy with the same company will help you get it at the best price.

Shop Around

There are many insurance companies with a wide variety of coverage. So, before finalizing the deal with one, shop around and compare the deals offered by multiple companies. This will not only help you reduce the burden from your pocket, but it will also help you get the best deal in the market with maximum benefits. You can compare the offers on the internet or can also look for an advisor.

Check the IDV of Your Car

The premium amount of the car insurance is totally dependent on the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of your car. It is the maximum amount you can claim from the insurance company, in case your car can’t be repaired, stolen, etc. There can be cases where one insurance company offers an insurance at a lower rate in comparison to other companies. So, check the IDV before buying as it is an important factor in a car insurance.

Buying an insurance isn’t a formality, it covers the risk associated with your vehicle. Therefore, think twice before buying one and consider all the factors to get the most favorable deal.

Everything You Should Know About Car Insurance

Due to advancements in technology, car manufacturing companies are regularly updating their existing models and introducing others as well. This has increased the choices for customers and now they can get the best deal available in the market by comparing the car models based on the specifications, car safety features, reviews, price, etc. Generally, people spend so much time in researching the latest car models, safety features, ratings given by experts, but they never pay attention to the insurance aspect.

The way customers are focused on health insurance and life insurance, they should also gather appropriate information about auto insurance in order to cover the risks associated with the cars. Car insurance is equally important than other ones because it ensures accidental damages, medical expenses of the driver as well as the third party if the collision has been amongst the two vehicles. Most of the time, it has been observed that to save money, consumers go for cheap insurance policies that even do not comply with the laws. Therefore, it is very necessary for you to get a decent insurance policy to safeguard you, passengers in the car, your vehicle, and cover the third party expenses, in case you met with an accident.

Here is the comprehensive guide to car insurance – it’s everything you ever wanted to know, including the significance of auto insurance risk and more:

Types of auto insurance coverage

Basic Coverage

So how much car insurance do you really need to protect you, your passengers, and your car? Three of the most crucial types of car insurance that you can have are a liability, comprehensive and collision coverage. These are the basics that you cannot afford to go without.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage does not protect you or your car, but it does protect your wallet. If you met with an accident and it is found that it was “your fault”, liability insurance covers the third party costs that you would typically be responsible for – like medical, auto repair costs and others that might sustain due to the accident.

Comprehensive Coverage

Suppose your car got stolen, damaged due to fire or lost in a storm, or even a limb falling on your car, comprehensive insurance pay to replace or repair your car as long as the damage isn’t due to a collision. There are certain scenarios where you cannot control damage and you are also not

capable enough to live with that damage, comprehensive car insurance is the solution for you. Both liability, as well as comprehensive coverage are not much expensive, so, you should have these to meet with the unexpected expenses.

Collision Coverage

No matter how accidents happen, whether you are at fault or the other person was a bit late in applying the brakes, the good news is collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car. You may be thinking that what is the significance of taking liability insurance then? The answer: Only if another driver is at fault and they have enough liability insurance to cover the damages. That’s why nearly 70% of drivers prefer taking collision coverage.

With so many variables affecting the available types of car insurance, it is very hard to decide which insurance is suitable. Therefore, you need an expert who can guide you to get the most favorable deal. Further, you can also investigate the available options in the market to opt for the appropriate one. Make sure you’re consulting with the experts who use latest tools like Sticker Lookup for calculating durability and insurability of the car to make an adequate decision.

Factors Considered by Insurance Companies to Assess Your Car’s Insurability

If you carry a bad image in the traffic rule books, it will be a bit difficult for you to improve your image and get things back on track. Traffic violations on your record creates an adverse effect on your pocket because every time you need to pay more insurance premiums than most people until you have a normal rate again. Not depositing fines on time and violating the traffic rules are the major causes of the bad image in the traffic rule books. However, this could easily be improved by setting off all the dues at once.

There are some other ways to reduce your insurance premiums like buying a car with high collision prevention score and getting driving classes to improve your driving skills. This will help you qualify for the lower rate slab of the insurance premium and set a reliable driver image. Verification of car safety features is another effective tactic you can adopt to avoid high insurance premiums. It is very necessary to check if the car you are driving is safe for you as well as for the other people in the car. The more risky your vehicle will be, the more you need to pay for your car insurance.

All these factors are very complex, therefore, it is very important to understand how insurance premium works. Let’s discuss the crucial factors that are considered by an insurance company to treat you as a potential client.

Primarily, people think their outstanding fines and the number of claims they have taken plays a vital role in deciding the insurance rates. However, except the insurance claims, there are certain other factors that also impact your insurability.

Insurance History

From how long you have been paying for your car insurance premiums, late payments, and if you have ever been a defaulter for non-payment by an insurance company. It is the first step that is checked before insuring your vehicle.

Financial History

Although, credit scoring is not used by all the insurance companies, but there are some that look for your credit score. If you have a bad credit score or have been declared defaulter in past years, it will adversely affect the policy you are willing to take.

Driving Record and Claims History

The number of times you have violated a traffic rule will directly affect your insurability and the cost of your car insurance. Apart from this, there are some companies that avoid offering insurance to vehicles that have a long claim history. Therefore, you need to pay high for getting your vehicle insured and for a better auto risk management system.

Usage of Car

If you’re using your car for business purpose, the premium will be higher because the car will be on the road a lot more than if it was used for the personal purpose. The more a car is on the road, the more likely an accident is to occur. Therefore, insurance companies decide the amount of premium based on the usage of the car.

Insurance companies nowadays are referring to collision prevention score before insuring a vehicle. This score includes the durability of the car, crash-worthiness, likelihood of being damaged, and the safety features. The higher score means the car is equipped with advanced safety measures that help the consumers to choose a safe car. It is also useful for insurance companies to reduce auto insurance risk and decide insurance premiums.