Innovation

Automation

Automation has been a tool for streamlining operations in Adient’s complete seat and component facilities globally for years. We continue to deploy industry-leading tools and expand the use of artificial intelligence to unlock opportunities for savings, such as:

• Improved accuracy
• Repeatable and reproducible results
• Allowing up-front customer collaboration on product styling
• Plant optimization
• Enabling of long-distance JIT and modularity

Product innovation

Our manufacturing processes deliver on a just-in-time (JIT) basis, but our product design work begins well in advance. We utilize today’s product portfolio in a unique way to meet our customers’ evolving needs as evidenced by our recent innovations, such as the Pure Ergonomics seating concept and Sculpted Soft Trim (right), which offers design flexibility, superior craftsmanship and labor optimization.

Pioneers in seating comfort

Adient established the industry’s first comfort lab in 1998 and set the bar for automotive seating comfort. Today, we leverage our unparalleled knowledge, proprietary data and cutting-edge technologies to bake comfort into our award-winning products — from the design phase through production. Learn more about Adient’s comfort capabilities.

Process innovation

ModuTec (right), our modular seat design solution, is intended to greatly simplify the seat build process and enable higher levels of automation. ModuTec was developed after in-depth analysis of the needs of automakers, manufacturing locations and consumers.

Additionally, smart manufacturing, such as the use of relax ovens and many more solutions in our plants, leads to improved quality, energy efficiency and labor optimization.

Partnerships

Adient leverages partnerships in our metals, foam, trim and complete seat operations, utilizing industry-leading tools to discover new efficiencies and develop new solutions. Through our partnerships with recognized technology leaders, we’ve co-developed products that anticipate and meet the needs of our customers, including:

• Mechanical massage systems and other innovative products with Jinbo, a Chinese comfort system supplier. This Adient-led JV allows us to strengthen our successful co-development partnership in China and better serve our customers globally.
• An artificial intelligence (AI) welding inspection tool (right) from AI company Mindtrace aimed at reducing direct labor costs, improving accuracy, and ensuring repeatable and reproducible results.
• New automation solutions for Adient’s current traditional sewing operations with Paslin, a machine integrator and automation company. Adient and Paslin entered into a joint development agreement for future related product offerings to enhance efficiency and improve product quality.