aPriori Supports Arrival’s “Microfactory” Approach to Manufacturing Zero-Emission Vehicles

• Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
• Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
• Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

• Automotive

• Procurement
• Product Research & Development

• Manufacturing System Automation
• Predictive Maintenance
• Supply Chain Visibility

• Software Design & Engineering Services
• System Integration

Arrival’s goal of developing unprecedented cost-competitive EVs fuels an organizational culture dedicated to driving down the cost of products wherever possible. Their cost engineering group wanted to implement systematic use of a manufacturing cost modeling tool capable of supporting this mission-critical focus on cost optimization. The Arrival Microfactory would also require these cost modeling capabilities to work quickly when scaling up new facilities, reflect regional variations in manufacturing cost drivers, and support manufacturability and cost analysis that could be configured to reflect the capabilities of local suppliers. Finally, it would need to bring the automation necessary to align with plans for an agile cost engineering team that can work cross-functionally across different manufacturing processes. Microfactories will be used to support not only localized supply chains, but products tuned to customer needs in local markets. Henry Ford famously proclaimed that customers could have cars “in any color as long as it is black.” Arrival plans to overcome this longstanding tension between cost and customization. Their vehicles can be custom-tailored to the functional and budgetary requirements of different regions, organizations, and use cases. The scale of traditional automotive manufacturing means that designs are only viable if they can command large global sales volume for years at a time. Because the Microfactory enables sustainable unit economics even at smaller production volumes, Arrival has the freedom to produce vehicles purpose-built for end user needs. If these needs change, the Microfactory has the agility required to adapt in short order.

Arrival is a company dedicated to developing cost-competitive electric vehicles (EVs) through innovative manufacturing approaches. They have introduced the concept of 'Microfactories,' which are small, flexible, and distributed manufacturing units designed to support localized supply chains and produce vehicles tailored to specific regional needs. This approach allows Arrival to overcome the traditional tension between cost and customization in the automotive industry. By leveraging Microfactories, Arrival aims to produce vehicles that meet the functional and budgetary requirements of different regions, organizations, and use cases. The company is focused on driving down the cost of products wherever possible, and their cost engineering group is dedicated to implementing systematic use of manufacturing cost modeling tools to support this mission-critical focus on cost optimization. Arrival's innovative approach to manufacturing and their commitment to cost efficiency make them a unique player in the automotive industry.

aPriori’s Cost Insight Design (CID) and Cost Insight Generate (CIG) products were introduced at Arrival to support their Design for Assembly work. Early successes led Arrival’s newly created cost engineering group to see clear value in expanding aPriori’s footprint at the organizational level. Ultimately, Arrival wanted to establish a single source of truth for cost and manufacturability analysis. Arrival uses aPriori Cost Insight Design (CID) to identify manufacturability issues to meet or beat their cost targets on their designs. With no input required from the designer, aPriori’s Cost Insight Generate (CIG) automatically initiates a comprehensive manufacturing simulation as soon as the designer checks in a new or modified design to their PLM system. If some manufacturing anomaly is identified, CIG proactively notifies the designer with an email communication directly to their inbox. Either manually or by clicking on a hyperlink from the notification, CID allows the designer to quickly upload and evaluate the identified component or assembly. They can study design variants and different material, process, and sourcing options that could address the manufacturability issue identified, and publish the best options for review with the broader team.

• aPriori’s digital factories are flexible, fast, and can be customized to reflect the capabilities of different suppliers in different regions. They allow for rapid design and sourcing iterations, with automated cost and manufacturability insights available almost immediately.
• Non-manufacturable or costly designs can be identified quickly, when engineers still have time to model design alternatives (and before waiting weeks for an RFQ response, only to discover a manufacturability issue).
• By bringing detailed cost and manufacturability intelligence as early as possible into the design process, digital manufacturing simulation also allows Arrival to eliminate wasteful feasibility loops and design churn with suppliers.

• aPriori’s digital manufacturing simulation software can provide detailed manufacturing cost models in minutes, rather than weeks using traditional tools like spreadsheets.