Land Rover and Savi launch RFID pilot program to track auto parts between suppliers and assembly plants
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SOLIHULL, UK and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — Land Rover, a division of Ford Motor Company, and Savi announced today that the two companies have joined forces to launch a deployment initiative A pilot project of RFID-based solutions to better coordinate the delivery of car parts from multiple suppliers to Land Rover’s main assembly plant in the West Midlands (UK). The trial was awarded a UK central government grant administered by the University of Warwick.
Savi, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) subsidiary and a provider of total RFID-based asset management solutions, provides RFID hardware and software to enhance visibility, inventory management and asset utilization, as well as reducing losses, work interruptions in the assembly plant, and time spent finding parts for assembly. The second phase of the trial has enabled 18 suppliers and Land Rover to better locate, track and deliver stackers (specialized steel carriers) used to transport bumpers, front grilles, suspension systems Parts, sunroofs, body and other parts. Real-time information about RFID-tagged assets is shared among partners and can be automatically transferred to cell phones, PDAs, and web-based tracking software.
Jonty Cook, Head of Inbound Logistics at Land Rover, said: “On-time and precise delivery of parts is very important to the efficient operation of our plants, as supply chain disruptions can slow down or even disrupt vehicle assembly. We believe that Savi’s comprehensive RFID solutions Programs can improve those jobs.”
Phillip Foster, research partner at the University of Warwick, noted: “With its overall solutions approach and proven track record of excellence, Savi far outperformed other vendors we assessed during our 18-month evaluation process.” Savi Technology International Business Managing Director Bruce Jacquemard said: “Savi’s total solutions approach is well suited to the type of complex supply chains Land Rover has and can be easily adapted through their global operations.”
Savi Active RFID tags are applied to the stacking racks leaving the supplier’s factory and these tags are closely related to the auto parts carried by the vehicle. Stationary readers are installed at loading docks, at suppliers’ entrances and exits, and at Land Rover’s assembly plants. As the marked pallet passes through a reader, the shipment information is recorded and the location information is transmitted to the designated user. Exception alerts are issued when the stacker does not arrive on time or does not arrive at the designated location.
For more information on Savi, please visit http://www.savi.com.
Source Savi Technology; Lockheed Martin
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