After revamping its transmission production line, GM improved workflows, reduced changeover time, and cut costs.

When Dennis Kubica founded Kubica Corp. 20 years ago, he had an electrical engineering degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn—and plenty of real world experience as an engineer, a research and development specialist, and a project manager for ABB, General Motors and Motor City Electric.

Today’s car buyers typically order a number of custom options for their vehicles at the time of purchase. In turn, the automaker must identify and track each vehicle throughout the production process to ensure that all options are installed. Volvo Car Corp. uses RFID tags to meet this challenge.

 The miniaturization of consumer products presents a double challenge to machine builders.  

WASHINGTON—Factory pay hasn’t kept pace with inflation and has fallen 3 percent on that basis since May 2009, while average pay for all wage earners slid only about 1 percent.

FLORENCE, KY—Balluff Inc. has published a new industrial identification catalog, detailing its complete line of RFID systems, vision sensors, supporting accessories and cables.

Both Lear Corp. and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing have found a manufacturing home in Montgomery, AL. Lear operates a plant that makes and delivers seats to the nearby Hyundai plant for just-in-time installation in Sonata sedans and Sante Fe SUVs.

SINDELFINGEN, Germany—Daimler is equipping its assembly plant here with the Ubisense real-time location system. Daimler is using the RFID system to track the progress of each vehicle as it is assembled. The system is also being used to track and configure DC electric fastening tools at the plant.

CAMBRIDGE, England—Japanese conveyor manufacturer Daifuku will integrate RFID technology from Ubisense into its next-generation material handling systems.

In Greek mythology, Ariana was the daughter of King Minos. She fell in love with Theseus and helped him to escape the monster Minotaur, but was later abandoned by Theseus. Eventually she married the god Dionysus.