The build date project

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Canuckvetter

I believe Oshawa trucks had no build sheets.

All of the plants used build sheets. The RPO information alone was not enough information for the operator to select the correct part, especially when there was a proliferation of part numbers within the RPO.

Any area where components were built up remotely and then conveyed to the main line in sequence would require a build sheet: front and rear axle trim, engines, transmissions, seats, front end sheetmetal, tire/wheel assemblies, etc. These are all areas with a lot of proliferation, and therefore not easy to present the material lineside, or - in the case of the seat cushions - a fire hazard (the "cushion room" was always way out in the boonies as a result). The build sheet defined the component that was to be installed, by part number or broadcast code, especially for option driven content where there was some choice as to what part was to be installed, or a remote area where there were no visual clues as to what part should be installed. So - theoretically - you would be able to find a build sheet on the motor somewhere, or above the fuel tank, or anywhere a build sheet was used.

There was no thought, guess work, interpretation or latitude on the part of the assembler: they referred to the sheet, selected the component by part number or broadcast code, and put it on.

K

[Canuckvetter]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

All of the plants used build sheets. The RPO information alone was not enough information for the operator to select the correct part, especially when there was a proliferation of part numbers within the RPO.

Any area where components were built up remotely and then conveyed to the main line in sequence would require a build sheet: front and rear axle trim, engines, transmissions, seats, front end sheetmetal, tire/wheel assemblies, etc. These are all areas with a lot of proliferation, and therefore not easy to present the material lineside, or - in the case of the seat cushions - a fire hazard (the "cushion room" was always way out in the boonies as a result). The build sheet defined the component that was to be installed, by part number or broadcast code, especially for option driven content where there was some choice as to what part was to be installed, or a remote area where there were no visual clues as to what part should be installed. So - theoretically - you would be able to find a build sheet on the motor somewhere, or above the fuel tank, or anywhere a build sheet was used.

There was no thought, guess work, interpretation or latitude on the part of the assembler: they referred to the sheet, selected the component by part number or broadcast code, and put it on.

K

I understand your point Keith. Just I have never seen an Oshawa build/broadcast sheet. I will dig into it more and get back to ya.
Michael

[Canuckvetter]

Originally Posted by Canuckvetter

I understand your point Keith. Just I have never seen an Oshawa build/broadcast sheet. I will dig into it more and get back to ya.
Michael

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...1&d=1615179163
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...1&d=1615179163

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/attachment.php?attachmentid=2087453&stc=1&d=1615179677[/url]

Here is what I found so far on the Oshawa build tags.
1-1/2”x 11” tag with partial VIN and RPO’s
The last pic is the code that GM sent out with their document package from their records when I inquired about my truck.

[Keith Seymore]

Yes - those would be used in addition (as a supplement) to the more familiar build sheet.

Those alone do not have enough detail to build the truck.

K

[70c10-08]

I realized I gave my VIN and, date but, no door jamb decal. Here's what's left of my door jamb decal confirming Zooey was a Janesville truck born in December of 69.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Yes - those would be used in addition (as a supplement) to the more familiar build sheet.

The RPO codes alone do not have enough detail to build the truck.

K

I'd like to elaborate on this a little more, if I may.

Let's use "engines" as an example (since I already have this written up):

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Further detail: let's say you order a 350 cu in engine. There is one base part for a 350, but it proliferates on Auto vs manual trans, a/c vs no a/c and California emissions vs Federal.

So there would be eight part numbers within that one engine family (there would probably be this many variations for v6, for 305 cu in, for 454 cu in and diesel as well):

12345678 350 cu in manual no a/c Fed
12345679 350 cu in manual w a/c Fed
12345680 350 cu in auto no a/c Fed
12345681 350 cu in auto a/c Fed
12345682 350 cu in manual no a/c Calif
12345683 350 cu in manual a/c Calif
12345684 350 cu in auto no a/c Calif
12345685 350 cu in auto a/c Calif

An assembly plant broadcast code would be assigned to each part number:

TAA 12345678 350 cu in manual no a/c Fed
TAB 12345679 350 cu in manual w a/c Fed
TAC 12345680 350 cu in auto no a/c Fed
TAD 12345681 350 cu in auto a/c Fed
TAE 12345682 350 cu in manual no a/c Calif
TAF 12345683 350 cu in manual a/c Calif
TAG 12345684 350 cu in auto no a/c Calif
TAH 12345685 350 cu in auto a/c Calif

So the operator goes over to a bay that is full of racks and racks of engines (probably more than you've ever seen in one place in your entire life). You can tell him which one to choose, via the build manifest, and he can remember that he needs an "AF", instead of trying to remember 123455683, or manual/AC/California emissions, since he will do this nearly 500 times in one day. (Edit 3/9/20201 - and won't remember any of it by the end of the day).

K

[Keith Seymore]

The operator looks at the build sheet in the appropriate box and sees he needs a "TAF".

He then walks over to this display of various racks, sorted by engine type, chooses a "TAF", and hangs it on the line.



Another reason for the broadcast code (also known as a "pick code") is that the part numbers themselves are so nuanced.

Can you imagine if he really wanted a part number 12345678 but incorrectly picked a 12345478?

It could be catastrophic.

K

[Keith Seymore]

This scenario plays out in a dozen different areas of the assembly plant, any place where there is proliferation within the RPO:

Transmissions (manual vs auto, low gear ratio, HD vs LD, etc)
Seats (based on color, trim level, vinyl, leather, extra padding, etc)
Axles (2wd vs 4wd, locking vs non, ratio, HD brakes, etc)
Tire/wheel (rim type, tire type - front, rear, spare or no spare)
Body shop (body style, high tunnel, low tunnel, bed length)
Paint (color, ZY1 single color, ZY3/4/5/6 two tones)
Radiators (size, auto vs manual, HD vs LD)

etc.

K

[BigBird05]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

All of the plants used build sheets. The RPO information alone was not enough information for the operator to select the correct part, especially when there was a proliferation of part numbers within the RPO.

Any area where components were built up remotely and then conveyed to the main line in sequence would require a build sheet: front and rear axle trim, engines, transmissions, seats, front end sheetmetal, tire/wheel assemblies, etc. These are all areas with a lot of proliferation, and therefore not easy to present the material lineside, or - in the case of the seat cushions - a fire hazard (the "cushion room" was always way out in the boonies as a result). The build sheet defined the component that was to be installed, by part number or broadcast code, especially for option driven content where there was some choice as to what part was to be installed, or a remote area where there were no visual clues as to what part should be installed. So - theoretically - you would be able to find a build sheet on the motor somewhere, or above the fuel tank, or anywhere a build sheet was used.

There was no thought, guess work, interpretation or latitude on the part of the assembler: they referred to the sheet, selected the component by part number or broadcast code, and put it on.

K

You are the best. From working at GM, in both the factory and in engineering, your description and or explanations are very good. You can explain better than I to the people on the forums. I wish you would write more often. You could do a whole series to educate the members on how the factory operates at a build rate of 60 vehicles per hour. Or in my case 235 engines an hour.

[402Bowtie]

72 chevy
2/72
2Z144229

And 71 Chevy
2/10/71
1Z628194

And 70 chevy
1/70
0B132792

And '69 Chevy
12/07/68
9Z834654