Scania World Millennium

During the 1980s, modularisation
made its definitive breakthrough.
When the new Program Scania truck
range was introduced in 1980-81, it
was a product based entirely on
modular production. Not only
Scania's engines and gearboxes but
also its axles, frames and cabs were
now modularised. The father of this
product range was Stic Ericsson, a
far-sighted engineer who headed its
modular development work, starting
Scania GPRT-series from 1981.
in 1974. He was also the man behind
the successful Scania 3-series of
trucks, launched in 1987-88. In this series, Scania went a step further by
introducing made-to-measure trucks based on customer orders. Using
computer-aided design, all components were tailored to customer wishes and
then brought together at the chassis workshop a few weeks later.
was re-employed at Scania in
1974 to lead the development
of the new modular Program
Scania. He was technical
director between 1983-90 and
during that time initiated
intensive technical
development on several
fronts.
Head Office:
Scania, S-151 87 Södertälje,
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 55 38 10 00
Fax: +46 8 55 38 10 37
E-mail: info@scania.com

During the 1980s, Scania introduced two new modular truck ranges.
Intensive technical development on many fronts also enabled the
company to manufacture "made-to-measure" trucks based on
customer orders.
In 1980-81, Scania introduced the new Program Scania range of trucks.
Encompassing trucks in the 16-36 tonne gross weight range, it was based
on far-reaching modularisation not only of engines, gearboxes, propeller
shafts and final gears, but also chassis components such as axles, frames
and especially cabs. This enabled Scania to respond to market demands
for solutions tailored to different transport needs, while satisfying demands
for more economical production. Using a limited number of components,
Scania could build an almost unlimited number of truck variants.
Scania T112 E6x2 tipper and Scania T112 E6x4
dumper in 1981.
The new range had been preceded by methodical development work. As
early as 1974, Scania's long-term planning department had been assigned
to study existing and future demands in various market segments. Once
these had been analysed, it was possible to begin technical development,
which was crucial to Scania's continued competitiveness. The man in
charge was a far-sighted engineer, Stig Ericsson, who assumed a position
as head of chassis design and production.
Scania pursued its modular development
work consistently and systematically. In
disciplined fashion, pre-production
engineers accepted the constraints that the
modular philosophy obviously imposed on
their freedom. Their work was richly
rewarded, as the new cab range in
particular demonstrated. In principle, three
different cab families were replaced by a
single modular family. As a result,
customers were offered greater variety
while the number of items in the full cab
Scania R92 Brasil in the 1980s.
range shrank by 70 percent. The number
of sheet metal parts, which required
expensive investments in press tools, was
reduced to a minimum and average working hours per cab fell by about 30 percent.
The new Program Scania range marked the return of efficient modular thinking as
one of the cornerstones of Scania's corporate philosophy. Due to thorough
modularisation, Scania trucks were characterised by high quality and cost-effective

production. This paved the way for comparatively high margins and the best
profitability in the industry.
When Scania's 2-series was introduced, Stig Ericsson assumed the post of technical
director of Scania. He became the head of all technical departments, which he alone
represented in Scania Division management. He had extensive technical know-how.
His vision encompassed not only product development, but also shorter production
lead times, computer-aided design, flexible production automation, shorter
order-to-delivery times, reduction of tied-up capital in stores and inventories and
global sourcing. Under his leadership, Scania pursued intensive technical
development on many fronts throughout the 1980s.
In 1987-88, Scania introduced the 3-series, awarded the "Truck of the Year" award
in 1989. In the 3-series, Scania further refined its modular thinking. The company
was able to manufacture "made-to-measure" trucks based on customer orders.
In a dialogue with the dealer, each customer could specify individual demands.
Together, they were able to design a truck - component by component and part by
part. The result was a "made-to-measure" truck, with a unique combination of
components and equipment. Computers broke down this unique truck order into its
constituent elements. This immediately resulted in sub-orders for frame members,
axles, a cab, transmissions and an engine from component manufacturers. These
would be assembled a few weeks later on a predetermined date at one of Scania's
chassis workshops.
All 3-series components had been designed with the aid of computers,
which also generated other information, such as data on how each
component should be attached - whether to drill holes in the truck
frame, what kinds of bolts, nuts and washers were needed and so
forth.
Frame designs vary greatly from one truck to another, so a frame
cannot be manufactured before the truck has been specified. There
are variations in the dimensions of the various members, but above all,
in the hundreds of holes to be drilled in the ribs and flanges of the
frames. The number, placement and sizes of these holes depend on
the type of truck, engine, gearbox, cab, axles, wheelbase and
equipment.
In Södertälje, a highly automated hole-drilling line was completed as
early as 1985. It was a 170-metre-long, flexible manufacturing system
that could work entirely unmanned for hours at a time. Frame member
elements arrived from Luleå a day or so before the holes were to be
drilled. When it was time to start manufacturing the frame, an
automated pick crane fetched the proper side member at a "pick
centre". Computers automatically translated the order specification into
a unique set of holes to be drilled in the members.
Scania T112 in Argentina.
Put simply, this meant that if a customer had ordered a given piece of
equipment, the machinery would automatically drill suitable holes for it
in the frame members. After sand-blasting and painting, the frame
members continued into the assembly shop, where the other truck
components awaited it.
Head Office:
Scania, S-151 87 Södertälje,
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 55 38 10 00
Fax: +46 8 55 38 10 37
E-mail: info@scania.com