The Indiana Auto Plant is an automobile manufacturing facility operated by Honda in Greensburg, Indiana. The plant opened in 2008 and produces Honda Civic compact cars, as well as Honda CR-V SUVs since 2017. They utilize an advanced electrostatic paint application process for their bumper line. Plastic bumper components must have a path to ground for static dissipation. Ensuring compliance with industry standards, the plant adheres to the NFPA 33-11.3.5 regulation, which specifies that bumpers must have a resistance to ground of 1MΩ or less. To meet this requirement, an automated measurement process has been implemented that can accurately measure bumper resistance within 42 seconds. Through extensive brainstorming and research, the team has developed a new design that is currently in the final stages of prototyping and testing. The team was able to create an automated resistance measuring gantry that used conductive material connected to a megohm meter on a test stand made of aluminum extrusion and pneumatics with a few electric components. As with any manufacturing process, accuracy and efficiency are crucial components. By prioritizing process flow and innovation, Honda's Indiana Auto Plant continues to stay at the forefront of automotive manufacturing.
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