Nissan North America, Inc. previously announced that it will use WhereNet’s locatable real-time location system (RTLS) technology to automate both its inbound and outbound supply chain.
The automaker partners with WhereNet Corp., a leader in wireless solutions, to strengthen the continuous improvement initiative at its four-million-square-foot assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi. The partnership aims to improve Nissan’s vehicle production, labor productivity and auto parts quality in North America.
“Amidst growing demand and the introduction of several new models each year, the WhereNet system gives Nissan the agility to manage its inbound supply chain just in time to support flexible manufacturing processes. Additionally, WhereNet helps on the side by automating pre-delivery processes to bring more new vehicles to market faster,” said Chantal Polsonetti, vice president of manufacturing advisory services at ARC Advisory Group.
The automaker’s Canton assembly plant has the capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles a year. It assembles Nissan Maxima auto parts and other significant vehicles of the automaker. The plant also produces the Nissan Altima sedan, the Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs, the Quest minivan and the full-size Titan pickup.
“As one of the most efficient vehicle manufacturers in North America, according to the 2006 Harbor Report, Nissan is setting the standard for manufacturing by embracing new technologies like WhereNet to continually improve processes,” said Tom Bacon, vice president of the Automotive industry. division for WhereNet. “WhereNet’s active traceable RFID system provides a critical foundation for flexible manufacturing, enabling automakers to manage multiple models with meticulous precision, ensuring the correct part is delivered to the assembly line just in time. In addition to helping manufacturers maintain a reduced input supply chain, WhereNet also drives efficiencies on the output side, accelerating the delivery of new vehicles to dealers through our industry-first automated VTMS solution.”
By partnering with WhereNet, Nissan also hopes to reduce labor cost, on-site time for parts and vehicles, improve responsiveness to customers, and produce high-quality vehicles as guaranteed by the system. This is because the system also immediately detects quality defects in vehicles; rework costs will be avoided.
