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Ford Buys VisualPlant(TM) for Dearborn Assembly

21 August 2000

Off-The-Shelf Software Will Help Reduce Downtime

               

    NEW ORLEANS - Ford Motor Company is purchasing the production monitoring 
software VisualPlant(TM) from Executive Manufacturing Technologies for its 
Dearborn Assembly Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.  The plant produces the Ford 
Mustang.

    VisualPlant(TM) allows Ford to quickly identify sources of downtime with
real time production data over the web.  Downtime at automotive manufacturing
plants can cost as much as $6,000 to $8,000 (U.S.) a minute.

    This is the second purchase of VisualPlant(TM) by Ford and includes a
two-year maintenance contract.  In February, Ford purchased the production
monitoring software for its Essex Engine Plant.

    "They produce thousands of Mustang vehicles in Dearborn every week," says
Dennis Cocco, CEO, Executive Manufacturing Technologies.  "VisualPlant(TM) is
going to help Ford on the plant floor to increase throughput by identifying
production bottlenecks.  They can prioritize the delays and attack the major
areas of concern."

    Today's purchase announcement at the IMS EXPO in New Orleans will see
VisualPlant(TM) operating in seven North American automotive manufacturing
facilities.  Magna International is using VisualPlant(TM) at
two facilities in St. Thomas, Ontario.  Atlas Tube, Freightliner Ltd. and
parts maker Wescast Industries also use VisualPlant(TM) at their manufacturing
facilities.

    VisualPlant(TM) is the newest production software developed by Executive
Manufacturing Technologies of London, Ontario.  A privately held company,
Executive Manufacturing Technologies is the leader in web-based software
solutions that provide manufacturers an alternative to costly custom
configured programs.

    VisualPlant(TM) can be installed quickly and is capable of managing all
manufacturing information like production counts and efficiency tracking.
Downtime monitoring, cycle time analysis and process variable trending are all
part of the VisualPlant(TM) program built on Microsoft's DNA-M.