Tesla Model 3 in a Tent

We will kill you – if you do, or we will murder you – if you don’t. You can pick the choice you like.

That seems to be the response of media+trolls after seeing Tesla’s new Model 3 assembly line in a tent.


First, we were all complaining about how Tesla repeatedly missed its Model 3 production targets and they were rightfully hammered for it. To some extent I supported the trolls because Tesla asked for it by over promising and under delivering.

Now that they have built an additional Model 3 assembly line in three weeks and have their eyes firmly set on building 5000 Model 3s per week, we cannot stop but laugh at them for pitching a tent outside the factory to host the assembly line.

 

Did Tesla tell anyone that this new line will be operating forever in the tent?

If they can get the assembly line set in three weeks, how much time do they need to get a proper roof? How much time will they need to fix, upgrade, improve or even move the line? And do all of the above while still rolling out Model 3 sedans from the new assembly line.

I guess these things doesn’t really matter because there is always room to find fault and let’s keep finding them.

 

How many of us really know what happens in the assembly line?

“The place where I spent the most time (ICE vehicles) had a large area for the drivetrain, then a large area for the interior, then a large area for “everything else”, and all three of those areas were called “final assembly” as a group. It was weird because if I were in a meeting and said the word “final assembly” somebody could think I was referring to the drivetrain or seating, but the supervisor for the “everything else” was the “Final Assembly Supervisor”.
I’m guessing Elon/Tesla’s GA is the “everything else” part of above and not the “final assembly” term used by a previous manufacturer.
I cannot say exactly what Elon/Tesla means when they reference their GA lines, but given the fact that it looks like they’re doing it in a tent, an educated guess would be: painted vehicle body, electrical harnesses run, dash and seats finished, drivetrain and battery mated – that arrives – then GA starts. Again, that is just a guess.”
                                                – BenPrice, Automation engineer, (Via Teslamotorsclub)

 

I contacted BenPrice to help me understand the “Tent” situation.

My question:

Is it possible for Tesla to use this tent as a temporary building and move things back into the factory later?

If the answer is yes, why did Tesla prefer to install a temporary structure instead of expanding the factory?
If the answer is no, will Tesla be turning this structure into a permanent one in the future by upgrading it?

BenPrice:

My guess is that this was the best of many options – to tent up this portion of the process at this point in time. How long that lasts…will get to that.

I’d imagine there are 10+ stations on this line – and each of those requires 3 phase power, compressed air, and possibly other utilities – maybe cooling water – would depend on exactly what the processes require.

To run all that utility is time consuming – workers on lifts in the way, upgrades to power distribution centers (which would require shutdown of power during the process), and then after the utility is run numerous vehicles, techs and engineers have to install the new line, validate it.

When thinking about all of that and a real need to have minimal impact to vehicle production, it makes sense to find somewhere else to put the line.

So onto the tent/“outdoor” nature:

A major commercial refrigerator manufacturer (think everything stainless steel behind the bar at your favorite bar/eatery – you know the logo) has no climate control. None. Just some fans. (Bigassfans) And those were only semi-recently installed.

These buildings get WARM – countless robotic work cells, welding cells, compressors, presses – that combined with a 100 degree summer day…

Fans do not lower temperature in a closed system, they just give the “wind chill” effect. In order to actually lower the temperature you have to circulate out hot air.

So before and after the fan installation, this organization just opens all the dock doors, all the roll up doors, the available windows. Its 100% identical to the tent at that point. In one case the roof is metal in the other the roof is a tarp (which was designed to be a roof).

So I don’t think they need to do anything – I don’t think it changes the production environment from anything I’ve been in that is more permanent. Maybe they’ll build walls and a roof around that tent then remove it – that would be my guess if anything, but in reality, and based on the Cali climate, this could be a long term solution.

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