CIMx Implements Manufacturing Process Planning At Bell Helicopters New Product Development Center (NPDC) In Less Than One Month

Following the successful production implementation of CIMx Apps® for critical electronic work instruction creation and management, in support of the V-22 Osprey program, Bell Helicopter has expanded the use of CIMx Apps to their New Product Development Center (NPDC).

Solution being deployed in step-by-step implementation process to maximize ROI

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) June 2003 -- Following the successful production implementation of CIMx Apps® for critical electronic work instruction creation and management, in support of the V-22 Osprey program, Bell Helicopter has expanded the use of CIMx Apps to their New Product Development Center (NPDC).

This expansion includes not only the current capabilities provided by CIMx Apps in the V-22 program, but also adds generative planning capability using CIMx GLPS (Generative Logic Planning System). With the combined use of CIMx Apps and GLPS, NPDC planners will be able to generate routings and work instructions automatically, using pre-defined logic that is based on the companys best practices.

The CIMx Apps implementation will allow Bell Helicopter manufacturing engineers to create instructions and apply constraint information for tooling, components, and labor resources. These data will be shared with existing Bell Helicopter business systems.

The first phase of the system will provide accurate full-color multi-media work instructions, as well as updating existing Bell systems. Initial ROI estimates show that the system will pay for itself in considerably less than two years. The implementation of CIMx Apps provides Bell with a solid foundation for future value realization through process execution management and visibility from CIMx MES partner, Intercim. These new capabilities will exceed Bell Helicopters current needs and provide the foundation for improving manufacturing throughput and quality across all of Bell Helicopter.

Using CIMx software, Bell can provide the right manufacturing process information to the right people at the right time.

"NPDC provides manufacturing resources not only for experimental programs, but also as overflow for production work and military and civilian repair and overhaul," said Jon Grant, Director of Manufacturing Support for Bell Helicopter Textron. "This system at NPDC will provide the flexibility our Production Planners require to support these diverse manufacturing disciplines, and will act as a baseline for future implementation in other Bell Helicopters manufacturing facilities. CIMx rapid deployment has allowed us to accelerate the process significantly."

"The step-by-step approach to implementation practiced at Bell Helicopter is giving them significant productivity gains," said John Todd, CEO and President of Intercim (a strategic business partner of CIMx). "By expanding the capabilities to the NPDC, Bell Helicopter will benefit by focusing on their corporate business initiatives."

"CIMx is proud of its accomplishments at Bell Helicopter. We are pleased with our fast and successful implementation at NPDC and look forward to providing the benefits of reduced manufacturing engineering cycle time, improved quality, and lower costs to all of Bell Helicopters manufacturing sites," said Rick Franzosa, VP-Sales and Marketing for CIMx.

About Bell - Bell Helicopter Textron is a $1.4 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation, and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.

About CIMx - CIMx has been providing a rich set of integrated solutions for managing production critical manufacturing information to such Fortune 100 customers as GE-Aircraft Engines, Boeing Space & Communications Group, and Ford Motor Company. The leader in Generative Content Management, CIMx software has been proven to enable their customers to produce products better, cheaper, and faster by providing the right information to the right person at the right time. CIMx can be reached at 513-248-7700, or on the web at www.cimx.com.

About Intercim - Intercim has a complete offering of products and services that focuses on delivering digital management and operational excellence to fortune 1000 enterprises. Through the electronic collection and management of information, the Intercim solution facilitates the execution and control of operational processes across all aspects of discrete and electronics manufacturing. It supplies the manufacturers enterprise systems with real-time, as-built information, escalating value to every part of an enterprises operation. Intercim can be reached at 800-343-3734, or on the Web at www.intercim.com.