On Thursday 2 May, members of Engineering Club enjoyed a trip around the Mini plant in Cowley. As one of the largest factories in the UK, it was an excellent opportunity for all to see automated mass production in action.

Starting with a tour of Body In White, where robots reign supreme over their human counterparts, Engineering Club watched the production of the Mini’s chassis from its basic steel beginnings. The school’s budding engineers then went around the final assembly line, where the lack of robots does not result in a lack of efficiency as the line kept to its 67 second time slot for each stage of production. Both of these stages were excellent examples of engineering at a scale which is impossible to replicate at any other level.

It was an excellent trip at a particularly poignant time in the Mini’s history, as this year marks the 60th anniversary since the first car left the production line. Thanks must go to Mrs Lewis and Dr Petersen for making the trip possible.