American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor has partnered with Siemens to pilot a new software, IntoSite, that facilitates virtual navigation within its assembly plants.
This new software will enable the company to improve global collaboration and share best practices. The tool is currently under testing at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan.
IntoSite is a cloud-based web application developed using the Google Earth infrastructure. It holds a 3D version of assembly plants and allows users to navigate virtually through the plants obtaining a better understanding of global processes.
Usign this tool, engineers or other team members can add pins at any virtual location and upload content such as videos, documents and images to these pins.
Ford vehicle operations manufacturing engineering manager Janice Goral said that using Google Earth, they will be able to increase the speed of adoption and implementation for their manufacturing teams around the world.
"The information then harnessed and transferred would build on our existing efforts to enhance alignment around the globe, and cater to a world where visual communication now can be more effective than email," Goral added.
