Full-throttle flexibility

Design, engineering, supply-chain management, and other factors pave the way for “manufacturing-that-can-turn-on-a-dime” capability for Oshkosh Truck Corp.

Impressive as it is, advances in manufacturing flexibility achieved by automakers pale in comparison to what Oshkosh has accomplished. At a plant in its namesake city (which is also its headquarters), the Wisconsin truck-maker builds about 35 variants off more than a dozen basic models. Those models range in size from about 25 ft (7.6 m) and two axles to 40 ft (12.2 m) and seven axles. Drive configurations range from 4 × 4 to 10 × 10.

“We have others from industry come through our facility, and they're relatively amazed at the number of different models we produce on one assembly line, and the supply chain coordination and equipment requirements that we have,” said Plant Manager Jim Romme. “The diversity and flexibility of our workforce-that's very impressive to people that maybe build one or two models of something on their assembly lines.”