MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., 24 March 2005. Intercim, Inc. announced today that Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, has selected Intercim Velocity, the leading process execution software solution for the aerospace and defense industry, for deployment in final assembly of the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft.
Bell chose the Velocity product to help meet commitments to its customer to improve operational efficiencies and simplify quality management for assembly of the V-22.
The V-22 Osprey program utilizes the integrated shop floor execution and quality management system from Intercim, as well as the CS/CAPP manufacturing planning and work instruction management solution from CIMx. The combined capabilities of both companies were selected because the solution enables:
** Real-time viewing of work instructions, performing buyoffs and on-line data collection,
** Capturing labor and operation status with feedback to performance measurement systems,
** Assembling a complete as-built ship's record, and
** Creating a more efficient operational environment through procedural enforcement of information processes.
"It is critical that we meet mission requirements for the delivery of 450 V-22 aircraft with orders for the Marines, the Air Force and the U.S. Navy," said Roger Williams, plant manager, Bell Helicopter Textron. "The integration of these innovative tools enables significant quality and productivity improvements with rapid deployment at minimal additional cost."
The Velocity process execution system eliminates paper on the shop floor, reduces non-value added labor requirements, improves accuracy and timeliness of operational information and reduces costs associated with information processing errors. It also consolidates the various electronic and paper-based shop floor information formats into a single revision-controlled and configuration-managed electronic record that facilitates smooth process flow through aircraft delivery.
"Like other customers that have chosen Velocity, Bell Helicopter was looking for a commercially-available process execution system that would provide it the foundation for improving manufacturing throughput and quality across Bell Helicopter," said John Todd, president and CEO, Intercim. "The V-22 final assembly operation is another exciting addition of a high profile aerospace program to the Velocity family."
Intercim develops and applies software that improves aerospace and defense manufacturing and its associated processes. The company's software addresses fabrication, assembly and test processes from the shop floor and across the enterprise supply chain. The Velocity application is a commercial off-the- shelf solution used to meet regulatory requirements, harness lean principles, manage quality processes, and bridge process execution between design and production for a closed-loop product lifecycle management system.
Intercim's software enables aerospace and defense companies to realize important benefits through increased operating efficiency with process speed significantly improved by elimination of the time-wasting steps involved in operator interaction. For more information, see www.intercim.com.
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. A leader in Manufacturing Data Management, CIMx software has been proven to enable their customers to produce products better, cheaper, and faster. For more information, see www.cimx.com.
Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, is a $1.6 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. For more information, see www.bellhelicopter.com.
