Ford Partners with GE Industrial Systems to Deliver New Collaborative Manufacturing System for Automated Production Scheduling

    DEARBORN, Mich.--March 19, 2002--Ford Motor Company and GE Fanuc Automation, a Charlottesville, Va.-based affiliate of GE Industrial Systems, announce that Ford and GE have signed a contract for a new collaborative manufacturing solution.
    The new manufacturing solution features automated production scheduling, routing, and tracking as well as supply chain management features. GE Fanuc will assess, design, implement and support the new e-manufacturing solution at Ford production facilities around the globe.
    The GE Fanuc solution - which combines off-the-shelf CIMPLICITY(R) manufacturing enterprise-wide software with new application-specific functionality - will enable Ford to provide flexibility in executing production schedules from ERP systems, monitoring production flow through the manufacturing facility, and making automated routing decisions.
    For example, all jobs for a specific order can be routed to the most capable machines or resources. By enabling Ford to better manage work-in-process inventory levels, the system improves resource management and flow for lower production costs.
    Additionally, the new collaborative manufacturing solution offers Ford and its suppliers real-time views into the production process, enabling just-in-time delivery of parts and reducing costs for Ford, its suppliers, and its customers.
    Not only will the system help users quickly identify production jobs by location and specific type but also will collect valuable data dynamically and can make it available to upstream and downstream operations in real time. Within Ford, the GE Fanuc system will be designed to interface seamlessly with 10-12 existing plant and enterprise systems.
    Kevin Roach, vice president of the Global Solutions Business at GE Fanuc, said, "We are excited to work with Ford on this new global manufacturing solution and look forward to helping an automotive leader improve rapid order fulfillment and delivery of high quality vehicles to their customers."

    About GE Fanuc Automation

    GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. is a leading global supplier of industrial automation solutions and is a joint venture between GE and FANUC, Ltd. of Japan.
    GE Fanuc products and services include CIMPLICITY(R) collaborative production management software, nano to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control, operator interfaces, industrial computers, lasers, and a wide range of integration and customer support services. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., GE Fanuc is part of GE Industrial Systems.
    For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com.

    About GE Industrial Systems

    GE Industrial Systems spans the globe as an industry leader in integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. The business brings to customers the latest technological products used to distribute, protect and control electrical power and equipment, and provides innovative product and service solutions for commercial, industrial, residential and utility applications.
    Headquartered in Plainville, Connecticut, USA, GE Industrial Systems is one of the major businesses of the General Electric Company.

    CIMPLICITY is a registered trademark of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.