RealTime - Spring 2008 - (Page 23)

Raising the Roof Webasto eliminates risks of human error and costly charges with Intermec printers, saving an estimated $190,000 in the ﬁrst year alone BY ANDI VANCE In the automotive industry, it’s extremely important that parts are labeled correctly prior to reaching a manufacturer’s assembly line. For Webasto Roof Systems, if its sunroofs are mislabeled, a black sunroof could end up on a white car. Webasto, a leading manufacturer of roof and temperature management systems for automobile manufacturers, labels its sunroofs so that the right sequence of roofs matches an assembly line order. Incorrect sequencing of one sunroof can cause assembly lines to shut down for hours, which translates into lost time, money and penalties. “Proper labeling is a big issue for automotive suppliers,” says Mike Thibideau, chief information officer of Webasto. “Misidentified parts get very costly when it forces lines to shut down. It can also prevent suppliers from quoting on new business, so you can understand why it is a high priority for us.” In order to ensure the sunroofs are always dispatched in the correct order, Webasto turned to Intermec and ToolWorx, a systems integrator specializing in automated data collection applications for lot/part traceability and error-proofing. ToolWorx implemented its ToolWorx SmartPack system to help Webasto sequence the sunroofs in the proper order using Intermec PM4i ruggedized printers that can withstand the rigors of the production line environment. People-proofing Webasto ships hundreds of sunroofs a day in large containers to automobile manufacturers. Prior to implementing the new solution, there were three levels For a free subscription: www.realtime.intermec.com 23 http://www.realtime.intermec.com

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RealTime - Spring 2008 Contents View Intermec News Profile: Chris Johnston Miles Ahead Partner Profiles Raising the Roof Intermec 2008 Conferences Signed, Sealed, Delivered Keep It Flowing Alarmingly Effective Events Coda: Terminix

RealTime - Spring 2008

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