UNOVA Demonstrates New Manufacturing Concepts at Ford Conference

19 August 1998

UNOVA Demonstrates Advanced Manufacturing Concepts at Ford Technology Conference; Two-Day Event is First by a Manufacturing Systems Supplier

    DEARBORN, Mich.--Aug. 19, 1998--To help extend Ford Motor Co.'s leading manufacturing efficiency, UNOVA Inc. Wednesday opened a Ford-sponsored private technology conference.
    The two-day event, open exclusively to Ford's global engineering staff, marks the first time a manufacturing-systems supplier has been invited to the Ford Technology Review Center (TRC).
    Ford launched the TRC about three years ago to give selected suppliers a private, low-key environment in which to present forward-looking technology simultaneously to large groups of Ford design, product and manufacturing engineers.
    In addition to technical presentations on advanced machining, metal forming and grinding technologies, UNOVA researchers also demonstrated new read/write radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag technology for "hands-free" data collection and a "single-point management" concept for car body development to accelerate time-to-market.
    "It is beneficial when customers and suppliers can exchange forward-looking ideas and research in this way," said Clayton A. Williams, senior vice president, UNOVA. "Both sides win when decisions are made in an environment based on collaboration and teamwork."
    UNOVA is a $1.5 billion industrial-technologies company with headquarters in Beverly Hills, Calif., and major operations in Warren, Mich., and Everett, Wash. UNOVA specializes in the design and integration of manufacturing systems, and in the design and manufacture of automated data collection and mobile computing systems for industrial, distribution and government applications. The various operations are global leaders in their respective markets.