Today, we had our first company visit and the opportunity to tour the Korean branch of Eaton. Eaton is a global power management company that produces diverse products related to energy. In the United States, Eaton Pittsburgh shares close ties with the University of Pittsburgh. Our contacts at Eaton Korea shared with us an in-depth look at the processes and manufacturing used to deliver quality products.
Our tour started with a brief introduction of the company followed by a Q&A panel hosted by Eaton Engineers and Sales professionals. Eaton Korea focuses on the automobile industry, specifically in the production of locking differentials, transmissions, and fuel valves. Additionally, Eaton Korea contributes to growing American infrastructure by supplying aftermarket manual transmissions for supply trucks. Our Q&A session allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the prototyping process for fuel valves. I learned that 3D printing is a common tool used to test the general structure of fuel valves before the manufacturing process begins. These insights contributed to my knowledge of Eaton Korea and the automotive industry.
Following the Q&A session, we had the unique opportunity to tour the floor where product manufacturing and monitoring takes place. As we walked around the warehouse, we observed various types of smart systems which assisted in the assurance of product quality. Robotic arms were used to transfer locking differentials from one stage of manufacturing to the next through different steps of the finalization process. Eaton Korea also integrated smart systems in their warehouse machinery. Forklifts are often used in manufacturing to organize and move product, and Eaton Korea employs additional technology to further facilitate the transportation of products. The forklifts at Eaton were capable of detecting obstacles within a two meter radius of the machine, as well as setting visible laser boundaries within contact zones. These smart systems enable Eaton Korea to maintain a high level of safety for the company while also maximizing output efficiency.
Our tour of Eaton provided us with insight not only into the automotive industry, but also the manufacturing and distribution processes associated with energy corporations. These experiences enabled me to gain a better understanding of industrial engineering and its applications in the global economy.