Leading industry analysts agree that automotive manufacturers must embrace technology like RFID in order to fundamentally change their business processes. According to AMR Research’s November 2005 research, titled “Auto and RFID: What’s the Roadblock?”: “The problem is, however, real operational excellence and true lean principles require more than the basics. Manufacturing operations must push for better practices in material management, including asset tracking, which is where RFID can be useful if used at an industry level.”

WhereNet Corp. has recently announed a “Quick-Start” program to provide tier one automotive manufacturers with low-cost, flexible systems in support of lean manufacturing initiatives. WhereNet’s quick-start offerings — designed to be deployed in less than two weeks — include its Wireless Part Replenishment System and Scrap Tracking & Management System.

Specifically tailored for the embattled automotive industry, this innovative program gives suppliers a low-risk method of evaluating WhereNet’s active RFID-based Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) technology applications that are deployed globally by major automotive manufacturers — including BMW, Ford, and General Motors.

The WhereNet Wireless Part Replenishment System improves lean material flow in manufacturing plants. The system includes a line-side or work cell wireless push-button triggering system that communicates real-time, consumption-based demand from the factory floor to the supporting material handling functions in the plant. Benefits of the system include increased visibility of plant floor demand, reduced plant floor inventory, carrying costs, and floor space, and improved labor productivity.

The WhereNet Scrap Tracking & Management System (STMS) is an application designed to streamline the non-conforming materials (NCM) processes at manufacturing facilities. All of the scrap and vendor-reject material processes, as well as the rework processes, are supported within STMS’ configurable NCM process flow. Benefits of the system include reduction in scrap and material loss, improved labor productivity and visibility to non-conforming materials. In additino users will have more accurate documentation of scrap and vendor-rejected material to support accounting processes and compliance initiatives including Sarbanes-Oxley.

Pricing for the WhereNet “Quick-Start” program is based on the configuration requirements of a customer’s system and the size of the installation. Available now, a basic WhereNet system begins at approximately $10,000.

“WhereNet’s quick-start program is a logical extension of its industry-leading applications to enable tier one automotive suppliers to reap the same cost-saving benefits that OEM’s have realized for years,” said Lee Grubb, former chief financial officer for Detroit Diesel. “Given today’s tough economic climate in the automotive industry, manufacturers need to get creative and find new ways to get ‘lean and mean.’ WhereNet’s proven active RFID-based solutions have raised the bar for the industry to embrace more lean, flexible manufacturing processes to quickly adapt to changing market demands.”