Ford Motor Company has chosen a Symbol Technologies barcode scanning solution worth more than R400 000 from mobile business solutions specialist RangeGate to support its new R400 million automated Rocam engine production plant in Port Elizabeth.
The new scanning system interfaces with Ford`s CMMS 3 material management system launched at the end of October 2001. The implementation of CMMS 3 and barcode scanning throughout the assembly line is part of the automation and standardisation of Ford`s local manufacturing operations in line with its international plants. The vehicle manufacturer chose RangeGate as the preferred supplier due to its existing relationship based on Ford`s use of Telxon equipment.
Ford has invested R400 million in modifications to the plant to enable the manufacture of the Rocam 1.3 and 1.6 engines mainly for the export market. The Rocam engine is a low-cost, robust engine able to run on the low-grade fuels typically available in developing markets. The engine will be used in models such as the Ikon in India and South Africa, the Fiesta, and the new Ka, to be launched in Europe.
Once the plant is running at full capacity it will export 1 000 engines a day. The new materials management system is mission-critical to this operation.
"Ten containers will be leaving the plant on a daily basis," says Tony Bell, IT manager of Ford Motor Company. "Barcode scanning is being deployed right down the assembly line interfacing with our CMMS 3 material management system to prevent human interface problems and ensure we meet our targets.
"We have not gone with wireless scanning, because we deemed it a bit too adventurous for us at the moment. We will fine-tune the system as we proceed.
"Ford chose Intermec as its preferred barcode printer at an international level. We decided to go along with that choice since any problems that might have been experienced in the interface between it and CMMS 3 will have been ironed out by now."
"Ford has given SA a vote of confidence with the establishment of this important engine factory in Port Elizabeth to serve its vehicle manufacturing plants in the developing world," says Alan Honeyborne, RangeGate GM, Eastern Cape. "Our solution and accompanying maintenance will deliver time savings, accuracy and ease of use to help the plant meet its production quota with the minimum sweat."
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For over 12 years RangeGate has focused on leveraging mobile technologies to give its customers a competitive edge - a Mobile Edge. The company helps its customers take advantage of the anywhere, anytime, real-time capability of wireless technologies in order to optimise business processes and accelerate ROI on traditional systems. RangeGate`s MOBILE-EDGE solutions encompass the mobilisation of corporate sales and field services, the wireless optimisation of warehouse control, logistics control, cargo and freight handling and in-store fulfilment. Over 60% of RangeGate`s 100+ strong team focus on software development and system integration. RangeGate is an accredited mobile partner of many of the major IT vendors. Strategic partners include Symbol Technologies, SAP, Microsoft, Lotus/IBM and Oracle.
RangeGate`s blue chip clients include Daimler-Chrysler, Johnson & Johnson, World Bank, Orange, Littlewoods, Sainsburys and ASDA. RangeGate is 76% -owned by Datatec, the Johannesburg Securities Exchange-listed global networking company.
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