Case Study: Ford Motor Company improves vehicle sequencing and reduces inventory with Dematic ASRS and control systems

Ford Motor Company - Customer Case Study

Ford Motor Company needed to introduce the same vehicle build schedule into its final assembly as was started in the body shop. This challenge required a system to sequence painted car bodies and coordinate with suppliers. Dematic provided a high-rise automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) along with comprehensive software control to meet this goal.

Dematic implemented a solution featuring four storage and retrieval machines and a rack-supported structure with 576 load positions. The vendor designed and installed the overall computer control system, which manages inventory and schedules vehicle retrievals based on the required build sequence. The results included significant improvements in productivity and quality, which reduced costs for the entire manufacturing system. The system also allowed Ford and its suppliers to drastically reduce inventory, extending part orders from 12 hours to five days.

Ford Motor Company