China adopts car-style assembly line for making rockets, satellites
China is giving its space industry a major upgrade by adopting a car-style "final assembly pull" system for making rockets and satellites.
Inspired by how cars are built, this approach uses AI-driven assembly lines and a national digital supply chain platform to boost speed, quality, and flexibility.
The new approach
Instead of making parts in advance, China's switching to a just-in-time method—only building what's needed, when it's needed.
Factories and suppliers are connected through smart digital platforms using cloud tech and AI to spot problems fast and keep everything running smoothly.
Why the change?
With demand rising for reusable rockets and giant satellite networks like Guowang, Chinese companies are developing new tech to keep up with global competition:
last year (2024), the US had 158 launches while China managed 68 but wants to close that gap.