Factory Implements Wherenet's Wireless Solution for Operations and Production


AM General, Maker of Popular H1 and H2 All-Terrain Vehicles, Uses Award-Winning Parts Replenishment and Assembly Tracking Systems to Reduce Inventory and Increase Productivity

SANTA CLARA, Calif.?March 9, 2004?/Wi-Fi Technology News/- WhereNet Corp., the leader of wireless solutions for tracking and managing enterprise assets, announced today that AM General, the world-leader in the design, engineering, and production of military and special purpose vehicles, has adopted WhereNet?s wireless location technology at its Hummer H2 factory in Mishawaka, Indiana...

AM General is currently running one WhereNet-based application to streamline assembly lines and optimize plant-floor operations. WhereNet?s WhereCall? wireless parts replenishment system and GE Fanuc?s CIMPLICITY Tracker application, which leverages the WhereNet wireless location infrastructure, enable AM General to expedite production and delivery of the H2 all-terrain vehicles to dealerships throughout the world.

?The flexibility and reliability of the WhereNet system has allowed us to operate at peak efficiency and ramp-up production to meet the pent-up demand for the Hummer vehicles,? said Deborah Cafiero, CIO/director, Information Systems, AM General. ?Wireless on the plant floor is revolutionizing the automotive industry and we are a perfect case in point. Through lower operating costs, AM General has already realized a return on its WhereNet investment and the applications continue to pay big dividends every day.?

?We are honored to contribute to the efficiency of the manufacturing process of one of the most popular selling vehicles in the world,? said Dan Doles, president and CEO, WhereNet Corp. ?Given our customer successes with some of the world?s leading automobile manufacturers, we know that our wireless technology is poised for greatness in the automotive industry. With each additional installation and associated ROI validation, we are reminded of the true breakthrough that we are delivering as automotive factories implement the leanest assembly lines and quickest production cycles ever.?

Calling All Parts ? 500 Pendants Make Assembly Line ?Humm?
The WhereCall wireless parts replenishment system, a first-of-its-kind invention, is used by several leading automakers and currently deployed in more than 70 factories around the world. The AM General factory uses about 500 WhereCall devices to support ?just-in-time? manufacturing processes. With a typical installation period of 90 days and an established return on investment (ROI) of less than one year, WhereCall is widely recognized in the automotive industry for its bottom-line benefits.

WhereCall provides an electronic means for assembly-line operators to request bulk material replenishment. When supplies on the line start to run low, the line side operator presses a button on the WhereCall pendant that sends a request specifying the type of material required and its delivery location. The WhereCall system provides an alternative to paper-based Kanban parts replenishment systems or hardwired electronic call systems, and it offers the twin advantages of low installation costs and unparalleled flexibility in industrial manufacturing environments.

Single System, Multiple Applications, Big Benefits
AM General?s strategic intent is to further enhance the efficiency of its operation by leveraging the WhereNet wireless architecture in conjunction with the GE Fanuc CIMPLICITY Tracker application to monitor work in progress. The Tracker application will be the most robust of its kind in the automotive industry. While standard Tracker applications receive data from bar codes or passive RFID tags, the reliability of this information is often compromised due to missed or improper scans. To support 98% accurate data capture, the AM General Tracker application is integrated with the WhereNet wireless system comprised of 18 antennas, more than 60 active radio frequency WhereTag? transmitters and 50 WherePort? devices.

About AM General
AM General manufactures the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, pronounced HUMVEE?) in Mishawaka, Indiana. Since production of HUMVEEs began in 1985, the company has delivered more than 175,000 of the versatile, 4-wheel drive vehicles to the U.S. Armed Forces and more than 40 friendly overseas nations. In 1992, AM General began production of a commercial version of the HUMVEE, called the HUMMER?, for civilian use. In December 1999, AM General and General Motors Corporation finalized an agreement to jointly pursue product, marketing and distribution opportunities for HUMMER. Under the final agreement, GM acquired the exclusive ownership of the HUMMER brand name worldwide and the original HUMMER was renamed the HUMMER H1. AM General began the production of the HUMMER H2, a new ?next generation? sport utility vehicle, in early 2002. Headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, AM General operates manufacturing facilities in Mishawaka, and an Engineering and Product Development Center in Livonia, Michigan.

About WhereNet Corp.
WhereNet is the first company to deliver a single wireless location and communication infrastructure that reliably and cost-effectively manages valuable mobile resources. Based on patented, standards-compliant technology resulting from a collective 100+ years of development, the WhereNet real-time solutions have reduced inventory, lowered operating costs, and improved operations, delivering a complete return on investment within 12 months for some of the world?s leading companies, including BMW, Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Co., and NYK Logistics. WhereNet?s strategic partners include Fortune 500 bellwethers FMC, General Electric, Siemens, Symbol, and Unisys. The company has received the Henry Ford Technology Award; was recognized for strong ROI by Computerworld; was ranked among the top 10 in the InfoWorld 100; and has been recognized as a wireless innovator by Forrester Research, Computerworld ROI, Frontline Solutions, Plant Engineering, and Supply Chain Systems magazines. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with offices throughout the United States and Europe, WhereNet is funded by Crosspoint Venture Partners, Foundation Capital, Bay Partners, Crescendo Ventures, and Sun Microsystems. For more information, visit the WhereNet Web site at http://www.wherenet.com, or call 408-845-8500 (in the U.S.) or +32 3 286 84 50 (in Europe).

Ross Perich
Trainer Communications
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mobile: 925-381-6048
ross@trainercomm.com
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